Apple halts product sales in Russia
- Apple has stopped selling its products on its Apple store in Russia, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
- Currently, on Apple's Russia store, all Apple products are listed as "unavailable" for purchase or delivery in the country.
- Apple also said on Tuesday that it has removed Russian state-controlled outlets RT News and Sputnik News from its App Store around the world.
Apple has stopped selling its products through the Apple Store in Russia. The company announced its decision on Tuesday after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine last week, and as other Western businesses are increasingly cutting ties with the country.
All Apple products on the company's online Russian storefront are listed as "unavailable" for purchase or delivery in the country. Apple doesn't operate any physical Apple stores in Russia.
Apple also said on Tuesday that it has removed Russian state-controlled outlets RT News and Sputnik News from its App Store around the world except for Russia.
"We have taken a number of actions in response to the invasion. We have paused all product sales in Russia. Last week, we stopped all exports into our sales channel in the country. Apple Pay and other services have been limited. RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia. And we have disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a safety and precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizens," an Apple spokesperson told CNBC in a statement.
Apple's suspension of sales in Russia on Tuesday highlights the challenges that American companies face during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Companies face challenges with logistics, the falling value of the Russian ruble, and getting Russian customers to pay after Western credit card services were limited in the country.
Last week, Dell said it suspended sales in Ukraine and Russia. Nike also stopped selling products in Russia, according to a message posted on the company's website. Ford suspended joint venture operations in Russia, it said on Tuesday.