Founder and Member of the Management Board (CEO); President of the EkoNiva Group, Ekosem-Agrar AG
✪✪ Stefan Dürr hat Putin empfohlen, Sanktionen gegen Europa zu verhängen ✪✪
About Stefan Dürr
Stefan Dürr, the German-born founder and CEO of the EkoNiva Group, has been publicly discussing his role in Russian agricultural policy and his relationship with President Vladimir Putin. In a 2015 interview, Dürr stated that he advised Putin to impose sanctions on Europe, saying, "It cannot be that only one side is punished for something that at least we in Russia cannot understand." He described his influence on Putin as "probably in the promille range." Dürr also expressed concern about the deterioration of German-Russian relations, comparing himself to a child whose parents are divorcing and noting that "what has been built up over 20 years will be destroyed in a few months." In a 2017 documentary, Dürr characterized the Russian business environment as "ice hockey" compared to the "football" style of German business, emphasizing the need to be "fast and robust" while following fixed rules. He acknowledged that Western sanctions against Russia had provided a short-term advantage for his dairy operations by reducing European imports, but warned that countries like Brazil and Argentina would fill the gap once sanctions were lifted. Dürr also reflected on surviving the 2008-2009 financial crisis, when his company faced high interest rates and unsold machinery, noting that his dairy operations ultimately saved the business.
Transcript (16 segments)
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Interviewer0:00
An area almost as large as Luxembourg, how far it is already exciting and fascinating. The farmer's son from the Odenwald advised the Russian government on land reform, earned his money trading seeds and agricultural machinery before he started buying larger estates. Now he owns 52,000 cattle; his cows make the 50-year-old the largest milk producer in the country. Prime Minister Medvedev has already been his guest; he just received Russian citizenship from Putin. He says, 'Yes, I advised the president on sanctions.' Perhaps logical: he benefits from the fact that hardly any European agricultural products are allowed into the country. Under the EU sanctions, Stefan Dürr could suffer himself, after all he is also number one in Russia's trade in agricultural machinery. On the conflict between Moscow and the West, the German-Russian says, 'I feel like a child whose parents are divorcing.' And now he is here with us at ZF Morgenmagazin, flown in from Moscow last night. Stefan, good morning.
Mr. Dürr, you live in Voronezh, that's about 100 km from the Ukrainian border. How is your emotional state, so to speak, as a divorce child?
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Stefan Dürr1:07
Well, you can see at the moment that the divorce is really getting close, and it hits us very hard. We would actually prefer to sit there and make sure the cows produce more milk and that the cows don't have any displacement, and you see, there I have to worry a lot about political things. That affects all of us very much.
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Interviewer1:22
You know Vladimir Putin, you met him not too long ago. Explain to us, how does this man function in this conflict?
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Stefan Dürr1:28
He is a person who certainly functions very, very differently from how he is portrayed here. So he is a person – I had a very confidential conversation, just the three of us, without the press, without protocol. A person who is very, very open, very warm, who is very, very affected by the matter, who is certainly not some dictator who wants to commit aggression. So it affects him deeply. Germany is very important to him, and I believe that he is a person who simply wants to be there as a normal European great power.
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Interviewer1:54
Many people in the West really blame Vladimir Putin because they say: He cannot simply appear so aggressive, invade a neighboring country, take the Crimea. What do you say to that?
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Stefan Dürr2:04
Well, I would say that taking Crimea – I am sure that was not planned. You have to see, I mean, the Ukrainian President Yanukovych was wavering back and forth, at some point he was with Russia and then... So I can't – the blame can be discussed for a long time, but I see at least as much blame with the West as with Russia. Russia reacted. And the bad thing now is: if sanctions come again, there will be another reaction. At the moment, federalism in Ukraine is on the table, a certain independence for the more Russian-populated areas in eastern Ukraine. If that is accepted, it is certainly a good thing. If sanctions come again, then – I am quite sure – I know Putin as a very warm person, but also as someone who, if you insult him, if you get too close to him, is certainly the last to give in.
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Interviewer2:44
You spoke to him about sanctions too, you advised him. How did that come about? Why? It cannot be that only one side is punished for something that at least we in Russia cannot understand. I say it now as in Russia, I watch the news every day... So did you talk him into counter-sanctions, or how can we understand that? Advised?
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Stefan Dürr3:00
Let me put it this way: I think I am far too small, far too insignificant to advise people like Mr. Putin. I gave my opinion, I think he took it in, but this influence is probably in the promille range.
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Interviewer3:15
Then tell us about the consequences: You are the largest milk producer in Europe, what effects do you see for yourself?
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Stefan Dürr3:21
In the short term, it may be a small advantage, as was said in the short film, but that is very short-sighted. Because we have a short recovery period, no imports from Germany, Holland or the like of milk. On the other hand, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina are now taking advantage of the markets. If Europe ever reopens from the sanctions, the Brazilians, the Argentinians will not leave with their milk, and the Europeans will come back. So if someone says they have profited, it is extremely short-sighted. For a long time, it's clear, Russia and Europe were good trading partners. Now everything is shifting, Russia is orienting itself towards East Asia, China plays a big role.
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Interviewer3:56
Perhaps you can explain the background to that. That is also what hurts me very much as a German now. We built up so much over 20 years, both economically and interpersonally, and it worked really well, especially between Germany and Russia. And what we built up there is being destroyed in a few months. ... How is it for you as a German? You work there, you know the structures, you know the top politicians. Can you actually continue working as an entrepreneur if this conflict with the EU escalates further?
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Stefan Dürr4:47
Sure, I think it's a dent, there is an uncertainty that is simply stupid. On the other hand, to say that you could no longer work there – that is certainly not the case. On the contrary, when you exchange ideas with other entrepreneurs, we come closer together and we are not worried about the big things now, no doomsday scenarios.
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Interviewer5:05
Finally, it looks like Vladimir Putin has a great interest in having a corridor to Crimea, so that he can supply Crimea. That's what it's about now, that's the current conflict: whether it gets autonomy status or statehood, that's what's at stake – but that will be bad for the economy and also for you.
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Stefan Dürr5:20
Well, I think the goal is federalism, to have a good neighborly relationship with Ukraine. But it doesn't look like that, does it. But I think the next ball is in the West's court to say: Yes, we will agree to federalism. I am quite sure of that. On the other hand, if it continues, I mean, it's stupid to have war on the border, especially when you live 100 km from the border. But on the other hand, it's terrible for the people who suffer from it. For the economy, it's secondary.
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Interviewer5:47
Interesting views from Stefan Dürr, entrepreneur in Russia, and assessment of the Ukraine conflict from a personal perspective because he knows Vladimir Putin. Thank you very much for visiting us. Many thanks.