McDonald’s reopens restaurants in Ukraine.
McDonald’s has announced plans to reopen outlets in Ukraine, which were closed following Russia’s invasion in March.
The fast food chain said it hoped the move would help restore a “small but important sense of normalcy”.
There will be a phased reopening over the next few months in Kiev and western Ukraine in areas deemed safe, the burger giant said.
McDonald’s had more than 100 restaurants in Ukraine before the start of the conflict.
The company has continued to pay salaries to more than 10,000 employees since then. “We have spoken extensively with our employees who have expressed a strong desire to return to work and to see our restaurants in Ukraine reopen where it is safe and responsible to do so,” said the vice president of senior, Paul Pomroy.
“In recent months, the belief that this would support a small but important sense of normalcy has grown stronger. And Ukrainian officials have advised that businesses resuming operations will support the local economy and the Ukrainian people,” he added.
The company said it was working with suppliers and contractors to ensure restaurants were ready to reopen.
McDonald’s also suspended operations in Russia in March, and in May sold most of its Russian restaurants to a local licensee.