Microsoft has announced that it is suspending all new sales of products and services in Russia, in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine that began February 24. Company president Brad Smith says Microsoft is also working with governments in Ukraine, the UK, the US, and the European Union to comply with sanctions on Russia and to help maintain Ukraine’s cybersecurity.

In response to the invasion of Ukraine, Apple isn't the only tech juggernaut yanking its products from the Russian market. To comply with US, UK, and EU sanctions, Microsoft is suspending all new product and service sales in Russia, as well as halting "several elements" of its operations there. The move comes only days after Microsoft limited Russian state propaganda on its platforms and Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister demanded that Russian Xbox accounts be blocked.

Microsoft saw the move as practically necessary. According to firm president Brad Smith, "concrete initiatives" like this will have the greatest impact, and "further steps" will be taken if the Ukraine situation unfolds. The Windows developer was unequivocal in his condemnation of Russia, calling the invasion "unjustified, unprovoked, and illegitimate" and emphasizing its efforts to identify and prevent Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine. Apple Inc. has stopped selling the iPhone and other popular items in Russia, as well as removing the RT News and Sputnik News apps from App Stores outside of the nation. YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc., has announced that it will no longer carry adverts on Russian state-backed media channels and some other accounts. Intel Corp. has halted all supplies to clients in Russia and Belarus, both of which are Russian allies.

The sales embargo comes after a series of crackdowns at tech giants like Google, Meta, Reddit, and Twitter. Russia may or may not budge in reaction to these acts, but there is certainly a determined effort to get it to do so.