Putin: West solves food problems at expense of developing economies

MOSCOW, Jul 7 (PRIME) -- The West is shifting the blame for a looming food crisis on Russia, while solving their own food problems at the expense of emerging states, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Whereas the U.S. was a net food exporter in the previous years, it has become a net importer. They bought food worth U.S. $17 billion more than sold. This means they exacerbated the problems of the developing countries, of poor countries, while solving their own. This is the result of the reserve currency, the dollar and euro monopoly," Putin said.

He added that sanctions against Russia have also made the problem worse, because the rising gas prices make fertilizer producers close their business. As a result, the harvest forecasts declined, and the food prices grew.

End