It was an expected decision, and it is finally the case: Apple has stopped selling its products and services online in Russia. This follows numerous sanctions taken by various international bodies, but also several large companies, against Moscow. On the other hand, the local currency, the ruble, has experienced such a devaluation that it is becoming complicated for Apple to continue its activities on Russian soil.
Beyond the borders of the country completely isolated from the world at the moment, the applications of the Russian newspapers RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download. Access to these publications is also restricted from platforms like Facebook, TikTok or YouTube.
Apple provides aid to Ukraine
The Californian firm has also taken various measures to help the Ukrainian people cope. Apple Maps (like Google Maps) no longer shows traffic incidents on Ukraine's roads.
#Appleon#Ukraine: we have disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a safety and precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizenspic.twitter.com/m8YA5N1bgf
— John Paczkowski (@JohnPaczkowski)March 1, 2022
And Tim Cook pledged donations to support humanitarian aid in Ukraine and countries hosting war refugees. The CEO notably announced in a letter communicated to his employees to double the amount of each donation, as other companies are also offering to their employees at the moment.
- You can find Tim Cook's letter in fullfrom our colleagues at Apple Insider
What consequences for Apple?
Any sanctions taken against Vladimir Putin's government will not be without consequences for the economy outside Russia. The country supplies many raw materials, some of which are essential for assembling iPhones. This is the case of palladium, a metal used for the manufacture of sensors and storage components. Neon gas is also necessary for the manufacture of smartphones, while 90% of the world's neon gas comes from Ukraine and Russia. Finally, for titanium, another important material for Apple, while Russia is a major supplier, China exports a lot, as does the United States.
At this stage, it is obviously too early to predict all the economic repercussions that the world will experience following this cataclysm. We can base ourselves on the declarations of Intel, GlobalFondries and United Microelectronics Corp – these claim to enjoy flexibility in terms of choice of raw material sources – to believe that in the short term, at least, the impacts should not be too marked.
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By : Keleops AG
Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.
