McDonald's is temporarily closing 850 branches in Russia

Created: 03/08/2022, 19:43

Response to the Russian war in Ukraine: the fast food chain is temporarily closing its 850 branches in Russia.

© picture alliance / dpa

A number of Western companies have already stopped doing business in Russia after the Russian invasion.

Now the fast-food chain McDonalds is also announcing consequences.

Washington - As a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the fast food chain McDonald's is closing its 850 branches in Russia until further notice.

All business there would be temporarily suspended, but the salaries of around 62,000 local employees would continue to be paid, the company said on Tuesday.

McDonald's has been in the country for more than 30 years and now has "millions of Russian customers there every day".

However, because of the company's values, "one cannot ignore the needless human suffering that is happening in Ukraine," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said in an email to employees released by the company.

All employees in Ukraine would continue to be paid in full, he stressed.

McDonald's initially gave no information on the circumstances under which the temporary closure of the restaurants in Russia could be lifted.

In his letter, Kempczinski emphasized that McDonald's "condemns attack and violence and prays for peace."

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Numerous Western companies have already closed or at least temporarily suspended their business in Russia because of the war and the harsh sanctions imposed by many states against Moscow.

dpa