Lukashenko launches potato plan to tackle rising prices
In Belarus and Russia, potatoes have become a luxury item. The shortage of these vegetables is forcing both countries to take urgent action. Alexander Lukashenko has issued an appeal to the nation.
What do you need to know?
- Potato crisis: Both Belarus and Russia are facing a severe shortage of potatoes, resulting in sharp price increases.
- Lukashenko's appeal: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko emphasizes the need to increase potato production to supply both countries.
- Record prices: In Russia, potato prices rose by 166.5 percent in May 2025 compared to the previous year.
The situation in Belarus and Russia regarding potatoes is becoming increasingly tense. Alexander Lukashenko stated that both countries need to increase production to meet growing demand.
"We have to grow enough so that it suffices for us and for Russia," Lukashenko said, as quoted by the Belarusian agency BelTa. "We must help the Russian brothers," the leader emphasized.
Russia and Belarus's potato problem
Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Russia is experiencing a shortage of potatoes due to poor yields. The rise in prices has been dramatic, and according to Rosstat, potato prices increased by 92 percent last year and by 166.5 percent year-over-year in May 2025.
"It turns out we don't have enough potatoes," Putin stated, as quoted by the "Moscow Times" portal. He added that Belarus had sold all of its produce to Russia.
In Belarus, residents have been complaining for months about the quality and availability of potatoes. Authorities in Minsk had already allowed price increases for potatoes, cabbage, and onions in April. Lukashenko admitted that potato shortages are becoming a serious problem, and this situation has become a hot topic following Putin's jokes in the Kremlin.
