Ukraine's Zelenskiy thanks Nike for exiting the Russian market

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday he had spoken to Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) and thanked the U.S. sportswear maker for making the "right decision" to pull out of Russia.

"This is an example of how business can play an important role in protecting humanity and freedom," he said in a video address broadcast overnight. "If a state chooses the path of terror, it is the duty of every self-respecting company to distance itself from such a state." The Ukrainian leader did not elaborate further.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation".

Nike told Reuters on June 23 that it would exit Russia completely after Moscow announced in March that it would temporarily suspend operations at all Nike-owned and Nike-operated stores in Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine. Nike joined other major brands in confirming its complete withdrawal from the Russian market. Samsung Electronics (OTC:SSNLF) Co Ltd, Russia's leading handset supplier as of the fourth quarter of 2021, froze shipments in early March, citing "current geopolitical developments". However, Izvestia this week quoted a source close to the company as saying that sales could resume in October, along with the supply of equipment to retailers and the relaunch of its official online store. Samsung (KS:005930) said no decision had been taken.

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