Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday a deal had been reached with Moscow to buy much cheaper diesel from Russia, in what appears to be the latest tangible advantage resulting from his friendship with President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported.
Jair Bolsonaro and Vladimir PutinPhoto: Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP/Profimedia
Higher fuel prices have hurt Bolsonaro’s hopes of re-election in October elections over former leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
It is not clear how Brazil can buy Russian diesel without running afoul of Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Jair Bolsonaro defied US demands and met with Vladimir Putin days before the outbreak of war, and has since said his relationship with the Kremlin leader has allowed Brazil access to fertilizers critical to the vast agri-food sector. .
Russia reaffirmed its strategic partnership with Brazil at the end of JuneWhen Vladimir Putin and Jair Bolsonaro discussed “global food security”.
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