Vladimir Putin bizarrely suggested that Russian eating habits were to blame for rising food prices.
His comments came in response to questions about the economy during a marathon press conference broadcast live on state TV.
Russian consumers have been fuming after the costs of many staple food items exploded in recent weeks and months.
Prices for potatoes have soared by a staggering 78%, while those for cabbage, beetroots and butter have also jumped by between 27 and 31%.
The Kremlin boss decided to deal with the economy right at the start of his conference as he sought to reassure the public that all was well.
Although he acknowledged inflation was a concern, he boasted that economic growth would reach almost four percent for the year.
Then, the Russian President turned his attention specifically to concerns over rising food prices.
In an attempt to answer his own question about how to address food inflation, he noted that consumption of some goods had risen beyond supplies.
As an example he pointed to meat consumption, saying Russians were eating “significantly” more than the global average.
Chicken prices in Russia have risen by 9% this year, while beef prices have increased by 13%.
Putin also appeared to target Russian farmers, blaming a lack of milk production for rising butter costs.
The economy is struggling to cope with high inflation, which is currently around 9%.
Russia’s central bank has raised interest rates to 21%—a record high—in an attempt to cut inflation in half.
Bank officials have warned that rates could be further hiked over the coming weeks.
Again, Putin tried to absolve himself of any blame for the high inflation, implying that bank officials had been asleep on the job.
He noted that experts had warned that interest rates should have been raised sooner than they were.
