Making sure that the Russian economy remains strong, President Putin ridiculed the situation in Europe, where “leaders suggest that citizens choose turnips over lettuce or tomatoes.”
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In the absence of turnips, come to Russia. This is the suggestion that President Vladimir Putin leaves the United Kingdom and the rest of the Western countries facing a food security crisis, in a year marked by the war in Ukraine.
The words were spoken during a meeting on Thursday with Russian oligarchs and businessmen, which will have been the first in which he was personally with the Russian elite since the invasion of Ukraine. during the event the president assured that the Russian economy remains firmdespite Western sanctions imposed in response to the invasion of Ukrainian territory.
Addressing businessmen, Putin said Western analysts had prophesied a future in which Russian store shelves would be empty and services would collapse as a result of sanctions. But, he stressed he, “life had other ideas”. “Western countries have faced these problems themselves. It got to the point where its leaders suggest citizens choose turnips instead of lettuce or tomatoes.he said, quoted by The Guardian.
“Turnips are a good product, but they would probably have to come to Russia to get thembecause our level of harvests significantly exceeds the figures of our neighbors in Europe”, he concluded.
The remarks are an apparent reference to the words of UK Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Thérèse Coffe, who last month suggested that people who cannot buy imported tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers in supermarkets should “ appreciate” seasonal products. British foods, such as turnips. “A lot of people would be eating turnips now, rather than necessarily thinking about the lettuce aspects, the tomatoes,” she said during a speech before the House of Commons.
At this Thursday’s meeting, the Russian leader took the opportunity to leave messages to the oligarchs and businessmen who were listening to him, leaving a call for patriotism and for them to invest in the country’s economy. “A responsible businessman is a true citizen of Russia, his country, a citizen who understands and acts in your best interest”, he defended, asking the elite to invest more in more and not hide assets in accounts offshore.
Source: Observadora
