The Ukrainian government is reportedly considering an end to its “International Sponsors of War” blacklist, which lists major companies that are passively funding the Russian invasion by continuing to do business in Russia because China and France strongly object to the naming and shaming of their corporations.
Most of the 50 companies currently listed as Sponsors of War are relatively obscure, but there are a few heavyweight corporate entries, including Nestle, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Subway. Fourteen of the listed companies are Chinese, including massive energy companies like Sinopec and tech giants such as the Alibaba Group. China is Russia’s largest remaining international ally after the brutal Ukraine invasion.
“It’s China, but not only China,” one source said, noting that France, Austria, and Hungary are also displeased with Ukraine for adding prominent companies to the list.French retailers Auchan and Leroy Merlin to the list in February 2023, calling out their senior managers by name for