Ukraine calls on world’s largest tobacco companies to stop cooperating with Russia

Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko appealed to the management of the largest tobacco companies: British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, and Philip Morris International to stop doing business in Russia.

He announced this on his Facebook.

"121 children died, millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes, thousands of destroyed schools, hospitals, kindergartens. We can endlessly list the terrible consequences of Ukraine as a result of the barbaric war started by Russia," Marchenko wrote.

He explains that working and doing business in Russia means paying taxes that are used to finance the terrorist actions of the Putin regime. "And hundreds of international companies have already made a choice in favor of peace and stopped working in Russia," the minister added.

According to previous reports from the companies, their official position is to cancel new investments and suspend the work of certain divisions. In particular, writes Marchenko, British American Tobacco is considering the option of transferring business in Russia to a third party, which may be a local player.

Japan Tobacco International is currently suspending new investments, as is Philip Morris International.

"However, this is not enough. I am convinced that there can be no compromises and smoothing alternatives. I hope that the largest tobacco producers will join the most international business and make a choice in favor of the security of Ukraine and the entire civilized world," he said.