McDonald’s announced Monday the company will be shuttering nearly 1,000 stores across Russia in protest of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The global fast-food chain released a message Monday, claiming “the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, and the precipitating unpredictable operating environment, have led McDonald’s to conclude that continued ownership of the business in Russia is no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald’s values.”
After more than three decades, McDonald’s is pulling out of Russia and seeking to find a “local buyer” for its business in the country, which includes 850 restaurants and 62,000 employees. https://t.co/nNvzcpxCXr
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 16, 2022
McDonald's said it has started a process to sell all its restaurants in Russia, exiting the country after more than 30 years following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine https://t.co/XsHQzNnltJ
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 16, 2022
“However, we have a commitment to our global community and must remain steadfast in our values. And our commitment to our values means that we can no longer keep the Arches shining there,” added CEO Chris Kempczinski.
McDonald’s opened its first Russian location in Moscow on January 31st, 1990. More than 30,000 Soviet citizens lined-up to taste an American Big Mac.
