John Warren, Poedem, poedim!: the West always wanted to thrust food down Russia’ mouth

'Kazan is slightly different from other cities'

You have visited Kazan for the second time. What do you think about the city?

I say with a great respect, but Kazan is slightly different from other cities. There are niceties, but I don't see them. I wake up at 8 in the morning, leave the room and come back when it is dark outside. I stay in a chained-brand hotel. I would like to see the life, but it is the disadvantage of our agenda. To tell the truth, I feel that, on the one hand, I see wonderful things that I have never expected to see in my life. On the other hand, sometimes I have no time to understand where I am. But it has not happened to me in Kazan.

I see a very prosperous and modern city, beautiful architecture and beautiful people – it is what I can say. The Universiade and FINA World Championships is a colossal responsibility and their heritage is noticeable.

So how did it turn out that you came back to Kazan?

For the first time, we were invited by people who were connected with Superjet, which is produced here [Editor's Note: performed by Komsomolsk-on-Amur]. We didn't have a but it influenced the sphere of our programme. Moreover, it was summer. I think it is normal that we visit a city like Kazan for the second or maybe for the third or fourth time. We have a short list of cities that we have visited even twice.

I see a very prosperous and modern city, beautiful architecture and beautiful people – it is what I can say. The Universiade and FINA World Championships is a colossal responsibility and their heritage is noticeable.

What will you prepare in Kazan this time?

Belmesh?

Belesh?

Yes, I think it was belesh. I will prepare it in Tatarskaya Usadba (Tatar Manor House) with your singer (Editor's Note: Elmira Kalimullina). I'm looking forward to it. I think it will be great to cook and sing with her. I hope there will be such an opportunity. I like to cook with musicians very much. What is more, one day I would like to take part in The Voice, so tomorrow I want to clarify some details.

Mayonnaise is a fuel for a Russian person

I read somewhere your phrase, that 'Those who did not visit Russia in winter will never understand why mayonnaise is added to soup'.

I suppose here everything is quite simple. If you work from morning to night outside and it is cold, you need to 'add fuel'. It is a fuel for a Russian person. I don't think that in Russia it is obligatory to eat soup with mayonnaise, but…

Do you like mayonnaise?

I like it very much. And when I have some time, what is a rare thing, I do it myself. In my opinion, nowadays it is difficult to trust a producer, not only in Russia, and it is a problem. I want to go to a supermarket and see a product that I call 'honest. They are 'honest' but unhealthy. Why do they need to lie people and make consumers buy some products saying that they are good? When I prepared my sausages, I wrote their ingredients on the package. They contained no chemical substances. And people appreciated it.

The situation is similar to Poedem, poedim! I don't want to cheat anyone. I want to show what I see. Recently I was in Sweden and tasted a local delicacy called Surströmming. It was so gross! I almost brought up on camera. It is a can of rotting fish. It was disgusting, and I said it. It is necessary to treat customers and viewers with respect. They have the right to have a firsthand information and real emotions while watching us during 36 minutes. They are not to be duped. They should be respected, not cheated. Honour without maintenance is like a blue coat without a badge.

You used to be a grain-supplier and sausage-maker. We would like to talk about agriculture that Russia is trying to develop. Is this experience successful in Europe? And what could you say about its state in Russia?

It is necessary to treat customers and viewers with respect. They have the right to have a firsthand information and real emotions while watching us during 36 minutes.

I don't think that agriculture in Europe is very successful. It is foredoomed to failure. You will have results putting chemicals substances, pesticides and herbicides into soil, but, in my view, it cannot last for long. I flatly oppose it. Agriculture in Russia is riskier, a good harvest needs a favourable weather that doesn't depend on us. I suppose that ecological approach to agriculture is very important. I don't like what is happening in Europe. However, I like the current tendency: in England, Germany and many other countries green-labelled products are gaining in popularity because people are fed up with all that trash that is presented as food.

Not long ago I was in Rostov-on-Don, where I had been living for 7 years. I talked to people I had business with: I used to buy their seeds, etc. I think that agriculture is developing very well. I believe that one always can develop, but now, when many products don't reach Russia because of sanction, it is a great opportunity. If I were a farmer or had any link with agriculture, I would have loans.

'The financial market is very weak here'

By the way, why did you leave this sphere? Would you like to return? You say that it is a good time.

That's just how I roll. There is an expression in the Russian language: to keep making the same mistake.… I did it, understood and existed in that sphere. It just happened. Life is a carpet, and if it is a self-colour one… God, it is not a rehearsal, we live only once. We should do what we can and try to jam it into one life. I'm very happy that I practised agriculture. But I think now I don't want it, I want something different.

Will Russia be able to feed itself one day? Whatisyouropinion? Taking into account sanctions, it did become complicated.

It is more difficult because there is no supply of raw material for it and no products from this raw material. In my point of view, cheese made in Russia is very weak. I suffer from it. Parmesan, mozzarella, ricotta are Italian, I don't mention French and English types.

We always should think what we started from and understand our current position. For 25 years Russia has changed its skin in many aspects. Time is needed. the absence of ideas and desire is not the question here. I think the financial market is very weak. It doesn't allow people to take out loans in order to buy houses, equipment or produce something. The financial system of Russia is very weak, compared to the system of England, as I consider. In England, if you have an idea, a bank itself calls you and says: may we give you money? And interest is good. I suppose it is the weak link of the chain of Russia, not agriculture or something else.

For 25 years Russia has changed its skin in many aspects. Time is needed. The absence of ideas and desire is not the question here. I think the financial market is very weak. It doesn't allow people to take our loans in order to buy houses, equipment or produce something.

Is the financial support in England developed due to the government assistance?

I don't know. I suppose that private banks are mainly the financial support of England. Here banks don't give money, and if they do, a half of the sum is to be given back for kickback, and you will pay interests to the manager. At difficult times, the Russians always understand whether it is a good or bad system. When tough time reigns, the system works bad, like now. And here it begins: oh, corruption, this and that! When everyone earns money, nobody thinks about it. Corruption always exists. It puts pressure on the economy during hard times. I will say only one thing: tiny England doesn't have uncultivated lands. And Russia is enormous! It is the main factor for agriculture. In my opinion, agriculture is a long-term money. You won't earn tomorrow. You need to plant, harvest, keep, sell, send, load, etc. Only then you get money. It is a long process. Why do I think that agriculture is fine? Because the era when it was possible to become rich overnight ended. People begin to think. At regional level, I see that people support some projects because they understand that they need to compete with other regions. Why should I build my conversion factory in that place, not in another one? Here tax remissions and other actions are necessary.

Have you faced with corruption, doing your business?

When I had grain business – surely. But when I made sausages – no, because the company was small. Besides, I am a foreigner. In other situations they squeezed money from me, but in that case they feared.

'I was born in America, and it makes me ashamed'

Your son is studying in London. You have been living in Russia for more than 20 years, but you have sent you son to study abroad. Are you not satisfied with our education system?

When I can choose, I can guarantee other education for my son. If he had stayed in Rostov, he would have become an ordinary guy from Rostov, and, maybe, one day he has moved abroad. But the question is – in making decision. Where do I want to live? In Russia or somewhere else? And I'm 70-80% sure that he will come back. But I gave him a choice. But if he had lived in Rostov, he would react differently and wanted to move abroad. Now, every holiday he wants to come to Rostov, he wants to see mom, friends – he likes it. He will make choice by himself, and, I think, it will be in in favor of Russia.

Since I moved to Russia, the West represented by Americans and the EU have always tried to push on Russia, to thrust their food down Russian throat. Do like we do! Do like you do? I wouldn't recommend.

Now, there are tensions between the countries. In what way has it affected on perception of Russia by Europeans? In your opinion.

Unfortunately, propaganda is propaganda. It works here and there. Europeans, that cannot think like Russians, think like they are told. So, here they say that evil countries want to harm Russia and so on. The same situation I see in England. They think that Russia and its President – are devils, that Russia wants to occupy the whole world. But sane people are sane in Africa, too. That people here, and in England, understand that the situation is otherwise.

Can you be called a patriot of Russia? How do you perceive yourself?

I am for the truth. I always want to know the truth. Personally, I am tired of how Americans behave. I think that after the Cold War they were ahead and felt that they the most important. But it is not true. Because sooner or later, the others start asking: 'Why do we have to do what you want us to do? My country has been living for 1000 years more than yours. Don't tell me what I must do.' Whose realm, his religion.

Since I moved to Russia, the West represented by Americans and the EU have always tried to push on Russia, to thrust their food down Russian throat. Do like we do! Do like you do? I wouldn't recommend. I think that Europe experiences hard times. And Russia represented by Vladimir Putin is a clever cookie, because it said that we will do what we want to do. We have our own interests, and they differ from yours… I was born in America, and it makes me ashamed.