Remember the Russian wheat deal of the 70’s? Nixon. We ended up with a shortage-had to buy it back. As I remember the Ukraine was the bread basket of the USSR.
The area where I am is part of the Black Earth region. The top soil is about 6 feet thick. Very fertile. With all the Western technology, Russia will become a agricultural powerhouse.
“Breadbasket of Europe” - may Germans settled there to farm following the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774) - which is why Hitler wanted it.