Key facts
- Mondelez CEO Dirk Van de Put admitted that taxes paid by the company in Russia contribute to funding the war in Ukraine.
- Van de Put stated that the company's decision to remain in Russia was made to protect its employees.
- The CEO expressed displeasure about paying taxes that help fund the war but indicated no change in operations.
- A Mondelez factory in Ukraine was hit by Russian drones shortly after Van de Put's interview.
- The article criticizes the company's stance, arguing that complexity is not a valid reason to continue business as usual in Russia.
- The authors call for G7 governments to take decisive action to hold companies like Mondelez accountable.
The CEO of U.S. snacking giant Mondelez, Dirk Van de Put, has publicly acknowledged that the taxes paid by the company in Russia contribute to funding the war in Ukraine. In an interview with the BBC, Van de Put stated that while he was "not pleased about that," the company believed it made the "right decision" to remain in Russia to protect its employees.
This admission comes as Mondelez faces continued criticism for its operations in Russia, with calls from civil society, investors, and the Ukrainian government for companies to withdraw. The article highlights that just days after Van de Put's interview, a Mondelez factory in Ukraine was struck by Russian drones, injuring two people.
The authors argue that the company's expressed displeasure and concern for its Russian employees do not justify its continued presence, suggesting profit motives are at play. They counter the argument that exiting Russia is too complex, pointing to a framework published by B4Ukraine that offers practical steps for responsible withdrawal. The article also draws parallels with the Danish company Rockwool, whose Russian plants were seized by the Kremlin despite its claims of protecting employees.
Van de Put also expressed concern that if Mondelez pulled out, its plant might be confiscated and used to fund the war. He stated the company is "not trying to take any side." However, the article refutes this neutrality, citing UN guidance that business activities in conflict zones are never neutral. The authors conclude by urging G7 governments to take decisive action to hold companies like Mondelez accountable for enabling Russia's aggression and profiting from the war.