McDonald’s is set to close its doors in Russia for good, as Putin’s war on Ukraine wages on
The fast food giant had previously temporally closed all of its 850 outlets in March, and will now make the closures permanent.
The company says the ongoing “humanitarian crisis” alongside an “unpredictable operating environment” has made operating in Russia untenable.
McDonald’s has been operational throughout the nation for more than 30 years, with the opening of the first store back in 1990 being a symbol of a relaxation of Cold War tensions.
But three decades later, it is one of a number of western companies retreating from the country.
McDonald’s CEO says it’s a complicated issue without precedent and with profound consequences.
In a message to staff he added “it is impossible to imagine the Golden Arches representing the same hope and promise” that led the company to enter the Russian market 32 years ago.
McDonald’s has already begun selling off its stores, selling all its sites to a local buyer.
Every one of the 62,000 employees in Russia will continue to be paid until any sale is completed.
