OREANDA-NEWS. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared in an interview with TASS news agency that the country had managed to compensate losses from Western sanctions.

According to the politician, due to various restrictive measures, Russia lost about 50 billion US dollars, but “earned the same amount.” The head of state noted that the sanctions forced Russians to “turn on the brain” and start producing goods and technologies that the country had not made before. “This certainly benefits us, it diversifies our economy. In fact, it helps us solve a key problem,” Putin explained.

The retaliatory restrictions imposed by Russia helped the country develop agriculture and free the domestic market, the President added. For instance, Russia has become a major exporter of wheat and began to provide itself with milk and meat. Putin also admitted that additional measures are needed to develop vegetable production in Russia.