It is unclear how Brazil could source diesel from Russia without violating Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its military invasion of Ukraine.
THE brazilian president jay bolsonaro declared yesterday Monday that his government is close to an agreement with hers of Russia for the provision cheaper diesel, something that, if it becomes a reality, will be a tangible benefit of the friendly relationship he seeks to maintain with the Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The far-right head of state did not provide further details. Neither Mr. Bolsonaro’s office nor Brazil’s energy ministry immediately responded when Reuters asked them to comment on the announcement.
“It makes sense and it could possibly be done,” said an official of the Ministry of Economy on the condition that he not be named. He refrained from going into details.
A senior executive at Petroleo Brasileiro SA – or Petrobras – the state-owned company that supplies most of the fuel consumed in Latin America’s largest economy, told Reuters the idea did not surprise him, but raises concernsalso avoiding giving more details.
The high fuel prices are among the factors hurting the popularity of Mr. Bolsonaro, who is seeking re-election to office in October. The centre-left ex-president is the big favorite in the opinion polls Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.
It is not clear how Brazil could get diesel from Russia without violating the sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow because of the military invasion of Ukraine.
President Bolsonaro defied US entreaties and met with his Russian counterpart Putin a few days before the war broke out on February 24. He has since asserted that his personal relationship with Mr. Putin has allowed Brazil to retain access to Russian fertilizer, a key raw material for his country’s giant agri-food sector.
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