Moscow, April 1 - Russia cannot close its markets to foreign food imports as it would lead to high inflation, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately, we simply cannot close our domestic markets to foreign goods today," Putin told a meeting of United Russia ruling party.
Russia is a major importer of red and poultry meat, milk and dairy products, tea and coffee. It is the world's largest importer of tea and second-largest of raw cane sugar.