Philippines negotiating purchase of fuel from Russia

The Philippines is talking to Russia about buying fuel and other key commodities because the country’s national interest overrides potential concerns over the war in Ukraine, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in an interview with Bloomberg TV, Report informs.

Noting that the Philippines can’t be complacent in relying on traditional suppliers, Marcos said the Southeast Asian nation was having conversations with Russia and other countries to diversify its supply chain for food stuffs and agricultural necessities like fertilizer to keep prices down.

“Now maybe we need to approach Russia, say that maybe they can loosen up and provide us with fuel,” Marcos said on Friday afternoon from New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly. He added that they were “close” to striking agreements with Russia and others.

“The political side of it has been a little tricky, but nonetheless, the national interest comes first,” he said, when asked about US-led sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. “We need to find those new sources of fuel. But that applies not only to fuel, it applies to things like feed, fertilizer, other inputs that are just critical for us.”