McDonald's announced Thursday plans to reopen some of its Ukrainian restaurants that had been closed due to Russia's invasion of the country in February.
In a statement to the company's employees, Paul Pomroy, senior vice president of international operating markets, said, "We have had extensive consultations with Ukrainian officials, suppliers and security experts. "After discussion," the decision was made.
McDonald's is also considering the "strong desire" to return to work expressed by the company's more than 10,000 employees in Ukraine, he said.
McDonald's will develop a phased plan to "reopen some restaurants in Kyiv and western Ukraine" over the next few months, while other businesses can safely reopen, the statement said. It is
The statement notes that McDonald's continues to pay the salaries of its Ukrainian employees and has set up an Employee Assistance Fund to assist them and aid relief efforts.
The Associated Press reports that other multinationals have resumed Ukrainian operations in areas away from the fighting. Western companies such as Nike, KFC and Spanish clothing retailer Mango operate in Kyiv.
The AP also said that Ukraine's economy has been severely damaged by the war, and that reopening businesses like McDonald's restaurants, even at limited capacity, would help. The International Monetary Fund expects Ukraine's economy to contract by 35% this year.
