Kiev, Aug 11, (dpa/GNA) – The US fast food chain McDonald’s, wants to reopen some of its restaurants in Ukraine, despite Russia’s continuing war of aggression there.
“After lengthy consultations and discussions, we have a phased plan to resume operations at some restaurants in Kiev and western Ukraine,” the company said in a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday. It said work would be done in the coming months, to restore supply chains and prepare restaurants that were closed at the start of the war on February 24. McDonald’s did not give an exact opening date.
The political leadership in Kiev reacted promptly to the news. The head of the president’s office, Andriy Yermak, posted French fries and hamburger emojis on Twitter, along with a Ukrainian flag. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, called the reopening plan a “political decision.” Millions of Ukrainians had been longing for Big Macs, he wrote on Facebook. “These are jobs and taxes for the Ukrainian budget, the survival of our economy in times of Russian aggression,” he added.
Russia attacked Ukraine at the end of February. Many international companies had already left the Eastern European country before the fighting began. McDonald’s has completely abandoned its business in neighbouring Russia.
GNA