Report: Putin: Russian grain prices must remain lower than global

MOSCOW, Feb 15 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin sees proposals to sell oil or grain at global prices locally unreasonable, he told channel Rossiya 24 on February 14.

"The same thing is happening with oil. Prices have grown on the global market, and oil producers tell me, "We must sell at the same prices on the domestic market because we have losses." What losses? An unattained extra profit – of course, but losses have nothing to do with that. The same goes for grain," Putin said.

He said that it is unacceptable to subsidize grain exports because Russia traditionally consumes much bread.

Putin also said that Russia has made a breakthrough in agriculture, including thanks to state incentives, cut-rate loans, aid during bad weather, export subsidies, fertilizer and fuel support measures. "Everything was made with direct support of the government and even when your humble servant was scolded that everything is in vain, we will have nothing. No. By the way, we have made a breakthrough with the vaccine as well, this is an area where this is obvious," Putin said.

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