Apple has halted product gross sales in Russia

Apple on Tuesday introduced sweeping modifications that may restrict using its companies by Russian residents and the Russian authorities.

In a press release offered to BuzzFeed Information, the corporate stated it had “suspended all product gross sales in Russia” and that its Apple Pay fee platform was “restricted”. Earlier this week, Apple confirmed that he now not helps the Russian financial institution Novikombank, and Russian residents have reported points use the service to pay for gadgets overseas.

“With every new picture of households fleeing their properties and courageous residents preventing for his or her lives, we see how vital it's for individuals around the globe to come back collectively to advance the reason for peace,” the CEO wrote. ‘Apple, Tim Prepare dinner, in a letter to workers. .

Final week Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted a duplicate of a letter he had despatched to Prepare dinner, through which he requested Apple “to cease offering Apple companies and merchandise to the Russian Federation”.

The corporate additionally introduced that Kremlin-controlled information retailers RT Information and Sputnik Information are now not accessible on the App Retailer outdoors of Russia. Fb introduced tuesday that he stopped recommending Russian state media to the world.

Along with these restrictions, Apple has additionally disabled dwell site visitors and incidents in Apple Maps inside Ukraine “as a security and precautionary measure for Ukrainian residents”.

“We are going to proceed to evaluate the scenario and are in communication with affected governments on the steps we're taking,” Prepare dinner wrote. “This second requires unity, it requires braveness and it reminds us that we must not ever lose sight of the humanity all of us share.”

See the total electronic mail that Prepare dinner despatched to Apple employees under:

I wished to take a second to speak concerning the present disaster in Ukraine.

I do know I converse for everybody at Apple in expressing our concern for everybody affected by the violence. With every new picture of households fleeing their properties and courageous residents preventing for his or her lives, we see how vital it's for individuals around the globe to come back collectively to advance the reason for peace.

Apple is donating to humanitarian reduction efforts and offering support for the continuing refugee disaster. We're additionally working with companions to evaluate what extra we will do. I do know lots of you might be keen to seek out methods to assist as nicely, and we need to assist amplify the influence of your giving. Beginning in the present day, Apple will match your donations at a 2:1 price for eligible organizations, and we'll make this retroactive for donations to these organizations since February 25. Please go to the Worker Giving Portal to be taught extra.

We're working to assist our groups in Ukraine and throughout the area. In Ukraine, we've been in contact with each worker, serving to them and their households in each method potential. For members of our Ukrainian workforce positioned outdoors the nation who might require help, please contact [redacted]. And for any worker who wants assist, please go to the Folks website for accessible sources.

As an organization, we're additionally taking further measures. We've suspended all product gross sales in Russia. Final week, we stopped all exports to our in-country gross sales channel. Apple Pay and different companies have been restricted. RT Information and Sputnik Information are now not accessible for obtain from the App Retailer outdoors of Russia. And we've disabled each site visitors and dwell incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a security and precautionary measure for Ukrainian residents.

We are going to proceed to evaluate the scenario and are in communication with the governments involved on the measures we're taking.

This second requires unity, it requires braveness and it reminds us that we must not ever lose sight of the humanity that all of us share. In these troublesome instances, I take consolation in understanding that we're united in our dedication to one another, to our customers, and to being a power for good on this planet.