Ukraine Urges Apple to Cut Supplies and Block App Store Access in Russia

Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister on Friday urged Apple top boss Tim Cook to cut supply of its products and block access to App Store in Russia.

Mykhailo Fedorov, who is also Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, tweeted a copy of the letter sent to Cook asking the iPhone maker to “stop supplying Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to App Store.” Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin started a three-pronged invasion of Ukraine from the north, east, and south on Thursday, in an attack that threatened to upend Europe’s post-Cold War order.

“In 2022, modern technology is perhaps the best answer to the tanks, multiple rocket launchers (hrad) and missiles,” Fedorov said.

“I am deeply concerned with the situation in Ukraine. We’re doing all we can for our teams…and will be supporting local humanitarian efforts,” Cook had tweeted on Thursday. Fedorov also voiced support for US sanctions on Russia.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden announced sweeping sanctions against Russia, cutting off major Russian banks and hammering access to global exports of goods from commercial electronics and computers to semiconductors and aircraft parts.

© Thomson Reuters 2022