Photo: WikipediaThe West has decided to give up big profits for the sake of some higher goals and face a galloping increase in energy prices, inflation and losses that will significantly affect the living standards of people in North America and the European Union. Russians, who in the last few decades have been getting used to the benefits of the Western consumer society, have been pushed into a life similar to that of the Soviet era. Vladimir Putin was right when he said that Western sanctions against Russia on this scale are equivalent to a declaration of war
As part of Western sanctions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, McDonald's also suspended operations in Russia and closed all 850 branches. "We can no longer ignore the senseless human suffering in Ukraine," said the company, which has been working in Russia for over 30 years. All 62.000 local workers, however, will continue to be paid. The company did not say under what conditions it would be able to reopen restaurants, nor how long it would go without paying workers.
The empathy of McDonald's was significantly influenced by the calls for a boycott of their products in America because they continue to work in Russia, which has committed aggression against Ukraine, kills civilians and bombards cities. "Until Coca-Cola, Pepsi and McDonald's suspend their operations in Russia, American citizens have a simple and safe way to support Ukraine." Each of us can stop buying their products and ask our friends to do the same," actor Sean Penn wrote on his Twitter account.
Coca-Cola and Starbucks, which has 130 branches in Russia, announced shortly after this appeal that they were withdrawing from the Russian market until further notice. This was also done by PepsiCo, which announced that it will stop the sale and production of Pepsi-Cola, Mirinda and 7Up in Russia, as well as the entire advertising campaign. The company, however, due to its "humanitarian responsibility" will not withdraw milk products and baby food from the Russian market.
The list of companies that join the sanctions is getting longer
Energy concerns Shell, which no longer buys Russian oil, BP, which exited Rosneft with its 20 percent stake, Exxon Mobil, Total, Equinor, OMV... joined the sanctions. motor vehicle manufacturers BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Daimler, General Motors, Ford, Harley Davidson, Jaguar, Volvo, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Renault...; financial institutions HSBC, DWS, Union Investment, Nordea, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal...; KPMG, PwC, Ikea, REWE, Obi, Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Dell, Samsung, Siemens, Ericsson, Nokia, Airbnb, Netflix, Warner Brothers, Disney, Sony Pictures, Adidas, Nike, Puma, H&M, Hermes, Electrolux, LVMH, Prada, Kering, Danone, UPS, DHL, FedEx, Deutsche Post, all possible Western airlines, TikTokโฆ
Russia is a market with over 144 million inhabitants. Because of the war, Ukraine, with over 44 million inhabitants, was also cut off from trade flows.
The US and UK have announced embargo on Russian oil, gas and coal.
No compromise at any cost
The President of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russia, Maksim Suraikin, suggested that McDonald's and KFC restaurants be nationalized in Russia, and that it is necessary to open a new, unique network of healthy food, using only Russian recipes and domestic products, reports RIA Novosti.
"Let it be called, for example, our answer to Chamberlain," Suraikin said, adding that he is convinced that "Russian borscht and cutlets will be as popular as hamburgers and fries," and that "it's high time to kick this western fast food and the symbolism of the yellow letters 'M' and the profile of Colonel Sanders, who generally resembles Trotsky".
The question is how many Russians are ready to return to life behind the Iron Curtain for the sake of Putin's political goals. Putin was right when he said that Western sanctions against Russia are the equivalent of a declaration of war. He certainly did not expect such a harsh reaction from the USA and the European Union.
The war in Ukraine, which has lasted only two weeks, is rapidly taking on global proportions with, as yet, unfathomable consequences. Neither side, nor the Ukrainians fighting against the Russian army, show any willingness to back down. On the contrary.
JH
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