PARIS, March 18 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky on Friday accused some European companies of indirectly financing the war in his country by continuing to operate in Russia, citing Nestlé NESN.S and Auchan by name.
AUCHF.UL, a statement deemed “surprising” by the French distributor.
In a video released on Friday, Volodimir Zelensky calls on Europe to tighten sanctions against Russia and close its ports to Russian ships, while calling on businesses to do their part in isolating Moscow.
“It is necessary that all Western companies leave the Russian market,” he said, specifically targeting Nestlé and Auchan.
A spokesperson for Auchan judged this statement “to say the least extremely surprising”, insisting on the presence of the French group on the Ukrainian market where its “40 stores are open, in extremely difficult conditions”.
On the other hand, he did not wish to comment on the presence of Auchan in Russia.
(Tassilo Hummel report, written by Tangi Salaün, edited by Jean-Michel Bélot)