Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that some are trying to hold Russia responsible for the global food market problems, denying that his country has imposed a ban on grain exports from Ukrainian ports.
"The situation will get worse because the British and The Americans have imposed sanctions on our cement," Putin said in an interview broadcast on state television.
"Fertilizer prices have nothing to do with Russian military operations in Ukraine," he said.
He added that the disturbing situation in the global food market was the result of the European policy, which he described as "short-sighted" in the field of energy.
Putin said the U.S. decision to print securities has led to higher global food prices, explaining that reports that Russia does not allow grain exports from Ukrainian ports are nothing but a "hoax."
Putin stressed that there were no problems shipping grain from Ukraine, pledging to ensure the safety of its export from azov sea ports.
"Our estimates are that Ukraine can export 5 million tons of wheat and 7 million tons of maize," Putin said.
In the same vein, the Russian President confirmed that his country would increase its grain exports to 50 million tons.
On the oil file, Putin mentioned some European countries that had abandoned long-term contracts for Russian gas shipments, saying That Europe had exaggerated the importance of alternative energy sources.