Ukraine begs Samsung to stop selling to Russia

Industry

Published: 06 Mar. 2022, 16:27 Updated: 06 Mar. 2022, 16:34

Ukraine begs Samsung to stop selling to Russia

Relief goods are being delivered to Ukraine. [YONHAP]

Ukraine's vice prime minister pleaded with Samsung Electronics to suspend its business with Russia to support Ukraine.

“I appeal to you with a request to temporarily stop supplying Samsung services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to the Samsung Pay, Samsung-Galaxy Store and Samsung Shop,” read a letter from Mykhailo Fedorov to Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee, which Fedorov posted on Twitter Friday.

“I believe such actions will motivate the youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression," the letter said.

Samsung Electronics didn't comment on Fedorov's plea. It claimed to have suspended shipments of products to Russia, presumably from some point last week, but denied it was protesting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Product shipments to Russia have been temporarily halted due to geopolitical risk and logistics issue,” said a Samsung Electronics spokesman Sunday.

When asked if the action meant that Samsung Electronics was following the lead of Apple and Microsoft, which suspended sales and services to Russia last week because of the invasion, the spokesman flatly denied it.

“The reason for the suspension of shipments is precisely because of logistics and rate issues, not because we are standing on a certain side.”

Last Tuesday, Apple announced it was suspending the sale of products and services in Russia, including limiting transactions on Apple Pay.

It said in a statement that it is “deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence.”

A few days later, Microsoft announced it was suspending sales and services in Russia, citing the country’s “unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful invasion.”

Google, Airbnb, Disney and Sony took similar stances against Russia.

Samsung Electronics is the No. 1 smartphone seller in Russia, controlling 30 percent of the country’s market. It also runs a TV factory in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow.

Samsung said Saturday it will work with international organizations to provide relief goods to Ukraine refugees. It is also donating $6 million to relief organizations like the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, $1 million of which will be consumer electronics like smartphones and TVs.

BY JIN EUN-SOO, PARK EUN-JEE [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]