MOSCOW: The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mali's transitional president Asimi Goita had discussed the importance of Moscow's initiative to donate 300,000 tonnes of fertilizer to the underdeveloped countries blocked in the European Union.

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The Kremlin said in a statement that the two leaders spoke over the phone on current issues related to advancing their bilateral ties, including those related to trade and the economy. Both reaffirmed their commitment to enhance their security-related cooperation in an effort to crush terrorist organizations.

"At the same time, they noted the importance of implementing the Russian initiative to donate approximately 300,000 tonnes of fertilizers to countries in need, which were blocked in European ports due to illegitimate sanctions," according to the statement.

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Goita was also invited by Putin to attend the second Russia-Africa summit, which will take place in St Petersburg this coming summer.

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From July an unbreakable agreement between Moscow and Kyiv allows ships carrying food and fertilizer to travel through the Black Sea. Moscow pointed out that most cargoes do not make it to the least developed countries.