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Nike is officially leaving Russia.
On Thursday, the sports apparel maker announced its departure from the country following Russia’s invasion into Ukraine.
Nike also posted on its official Russian website telling visitors its website and mobile app will “no longer be available in this region” and that its stores “will not reopen,“CNNreports. Nike had about 100 stores in the country.
Nike business in both Russia and Ukraine make up less than one percent of its total revenue,Reutersreported.
The decision comes as new laws are expected to pass that would allow Moscow to seize the assets and impose criminal penalties against foreign companies planning to exit Russia, according to Reuters.
Other American companies including Cisco,McDonald’sand Starbucks has also decided to shut down their operations within the country, according toBBC. Nike’s competitors Adidas, Puma and Reebok also left Russia in March.
Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
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“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting. “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
