“Russia needs the Ukraine to feed its people during the coming mini ice age.”
That was 20 years ago.
Now Russia is now a net EXPORTER of wheat.
Russia Wheat Export Price Falls for 1st Time Since July on Glut
http://www.agweb.com/article/russia-wheat-export-price-falls-for-1st-time-since-july-on-glut/
In the last 15 years, they have opened up huge tracts of land for agriculture.