Major global companies, including PepsiCo and McDonald’s, are under increasing pressure to stop doing business in Russia as Vladimir Putin continues his country’s war on Ukraine.
Apple has suspended sales in Russia, Nike and Ikea have closed their stores in the country, and Mastercard and Visa have suspended their services there. But some major companies, such as PepsiCo and McDonald’s, did not issue statements condemning the war and continued to operate as usual.
McDonald’s has 847 restaurants in Russia and says on its website that operations in Ukraine and Russia account for approximately 9% of global sales and 3% of profits.
According to The New York Times, Russia accounts for more than 4% of PepsiCo’s sales.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned several companies, including McDonald’s and PepsiCo, of “significant and growing legal, compliance, operational, human and worker rights, and reputational risks,” Reuters reported. related to doing business in Russia.
DiNapoli, who oversees the $258.1 billion New York State General Pension Fund, wrote in letters to companies on Friday that the revaluation of operations in Russia “will eliminate various investment risks associated with the Russian market and will play an important role in condemning the role of Russia.” in a fundamental undermining of the international order, which is vital to a strong and healthy world economy.”
McDonald’s and PepsiCo did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Other Western brands, including Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Burger King, have also come under fire for continuing to operate in Russia.
Actor Sean Penn, who recently returned to the US after filming a documentary about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, urged Americans to boycott these brands.
“Until Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and McDonalds suspend operations in Russia, American citizens will have a very safe and easy way to support Ukraine,” Penn said. tweeted. “Any one of us can put a stop to buying their products and ask our friends to do the same.”
Until Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and McDonalds suspend their operations in Russia, American citizens will have a very easy and safe way to maintain relations with Ukraine. Any of us can pause their product purchases and ask our friends to do the same.
https://t.co/OGNPJRCjrQ— Sean Penn (@SeanPenn) March 7, 2022
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba over the weekend accused Shell Oil of buying Russian oil.
“One question for @Shell: does Russian oil smell like Ukrainian blood to you?” Kuleba wrote about this on Twitter on Friday. “I call on all conscientious people around the world to demand that multinational companies cut off all business ties with Russia.”
I was told that Shell secretly bought Russian oil yesterday. One question for @Shell: Russian oil doesn’t smell like Ukrainian blood to you? I call on all conscientious people around the world to demand that multinational companies sever all business ties with Russia.
— Dmitry Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 5, 2022
Shell announced on Tuesday that it will stop buying oil and natural gas from Russia and close its filling stations in the country.
“We are well aware that our decision last week to purchase a batch of Russian crude oil for processing into products such as gasoline and diesel fuel – despite the fact that it was made with security of supply in mind – was the wrong one, and we are sorry.” said CEO Ben van Beurden, according to the Associated Press. “As we said, we will channel the profits from the limited remaining volumes of Russian oil that we will refine into a special fund.”