McDonald's is leaving Russia, after more than 30 years

Russians wait in line outside a McDonald's fast food restaurant in Moscow in 1991. Two months after the Berlin Wall fell, another powerful symbol opened its doors in the middle of Moscow: a gleaming new McDonald’s. It was the first American fast-food restaurant to enter the Soviet Union. But now, McDonald's is closing its 850 restaurants in Russia. (AP Photo/File)

McDonald’s is exiting Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, pulling out of a market it’s been a part of for 32 years. The fast-food giant had previously paused its operations in Russia less than two weeks into the brutal conflict being waged over Ukraine’s future.

McDonald’s wants to sell its entire slate of restaurants in the country to a Russian buyer. To prepare for that sale, it will start “de-arching” its restaurants — stripping them of its trademark signs, menus and branding.

The company cites ethics and business reasons