MOSCOW, March 5. /TASS/. Russia is fully self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs, President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with women from the flight crew of Russian airlines.

The President recalled that thanks to focusing on the development of agriculture, the country had earned $25 billion in exports by last year.

"But it not even in the volume of exports that matter, the point is that we are fully self-sufficient in all food products, basic products, we have completely covered the needs of the country," Putin said.

"But there was some luck in this misfortune," the Russian leader said hinting that the Western sanctions had made Russia develop import-substitution.

"We will also act this way in the field of aircraft manufacturing and in transportation," Putin added.