Ukraine wants Apple to stop selling products and its App Store in Russia
The war in Ukraine continues, prompting the country to demand that Apple stop selling its products in Russia, as well as suspending its App Store to prevent app downloads.
For Ukraine, Apple must cut ties with Russia
Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, wrote a letter to Tim Cook, the boss of Apple, to ask him to stop his operations in Russia.
I appeal to you and I am sure that you will not only hear it, but that you will do everything possible to protect Ukraine, Europe and, ultimately, the entire democratic world from bloody authoritarian aggression: stop to provide Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to the App Store!
We are sure that such actions will motivate the youth and working population of Russia to proactively stop this shameful military aggression.
I’ve contacted @tim_cook, Apple’s CEO, to block the Apple Store for citizens of the Russian Federation, and to support the package of US government sanctions! If you agree to have the president-killer, then you will have to be satisfied with the only available site Russia 24. pic.twitter.com/b5dm78g2vS
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 25, 2022
Apple does have a presence in Russia. The group has its online Apple Store for the sale of iPhones, Macs, iPads and other products, but there is no physical store. There is also the App Store to download applications. And recently, Apple opened a headquarters in Russia. Suffice to say that the timing is not necessarily good.
Apple support for local humanitarian efforts
Tim Cook posted a tweet yesterday regarding the war in Ukraine. The leader notably announced that Apple will help local humanitarian efforts. But he has not yet reacted to the letter from the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine.
I am deeply concerned with the situation in Ukraine. We’re doing all we can for our teams there and will be supporting local humanitarian efforts. I am thinking of the people who are right now in harm’s way and joining all those calling for peace.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 25, 2022
As it stands, nothing changes in Russia for Apple products and the App Store. On the other hand, Russians can no longer use Apple Pay or Google Pay due to certain economic restrictions.
