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This Happened

This Happened—January 31st:  McDonald's In The USSR

Emerging from decades of communism and the Cold War with the United States, on this day in 1990, more than 5,000 people showed up at the opening of Moscow’s first McDonald's.

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Why did Moscow introduce the first McDonald’s to its people?

The entry of the iconic American chain into Russia was seen as a symbol of ongoing economic and political reforms between the U.S. and Russia. The company's operations in the country continued even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union the next year.

Was the Russian McDonald's menu different?

McDonald's restaurants in Russia serve chicken wings and shrimp, and McZavtrak, the menu for Russia’s version of McBreakfast offers cheesecake rolls, blini and oatmeal.

Is McDonald’s still operating in Russia?

McDonald's had over 800 restaurants across Russia with a total of 62,000 employees in 2022. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and pressure on social media, McDonald's announced in March that it would temporarily suspend its operations in Russia, but would continue to pay its employees there. A BBC reporter who attended the closing said that it was "hugely symbolic," as the first store's opening was "when iron curtains were crumbling & Russia was embracing the West."

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FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

How Much Does Xi Jinping Care About Putin's ICC Arrest Warrant?

After the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Moscow for a three-day visit. How far will he be willing to go to support Putin, a fugitive from international justice?

Photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev

Extended meeting of Russian Interior Ministry board on Monday, March 20

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — Since Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin said last year that the friendship between their nations was "boundless," the world has wondered where the limits really lie. The Chinese president's three-day visit to Russia, which began Monday, gives us an opportunity to assess.

Xi's visit is important in many ways, particularly because the International Criminal Court has just issued an arrest warrant against Putin for his role in forcibly sending thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. For Putin, there could be no better response to this international court, which he does not recognize, than to appear alongside the president of a great country, which, like Russia, is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council. How isolated can Putin really be, when the leader of 1.5 billion people in China comes to visit?

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