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Russians will not be able to use Apple Pay and Google Pay services for Visa and Mastercard, although it is still possible to pay for purchases with plastic cards of these systems, PRIME reports with reference to the materials of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
Earlier today, the international systems Visa and Mastercard announced that due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, they are suspending operations in the Russian Federation.
As the regulator later warned, “Apple Pay and Google Pay services for Visa and Mastercard cards will not be available.”
At the same time, the Central Bank assured that “all cards of the international payment systems Visa and Mastercard issued by Russian banks will continue to work in Russia as usual until their expiration date.” “Operations on them are processed within the country in the National Payment Card System, and sanctions do not affect them. Client funds on accounts linked to such cards are fully preserved and available,” the regulator’s message emphasizes.
Nevertheless, Visa itself has already indicated that the restrictions for cards issued by Russian banks will come into effect from midnight on March 10th. They cannot be used abroad, they will not be accepted in foreign online stores, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay, RBC emphasizes.
Recall that on February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), and on February 24 he made an emergency appeal to the Russians and announced a special military operation in Donbass. In his speech, he stated that “circumstances require decisive action from Russia” and stressed that “Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons.”
In response to Russia’s actions, Western countries (USA, Canada, European Union, Great Britain, Japan) announced new, tougher sanctions against the Russian Federation, including financial and economic ones.
In particular, Russian banks fell under the sanctions, including Sberbank, VTB, Novikombank, FC Otkritie and Sovcombank, and for a number of state-owned companies it was difficult to attract foreign capital.
Later, the EU countries and the United States agreed to disconnect Russian banks that fell under sanctions from the international system of interbank transactions and information exchange SWIFT. In addition, it was decided to freeze the assets of the Bank of Russia, which will create difficulties for its use of international reserves. EU countries also pledged to take steps to limit the sale of citizenship — the so-called “golden passports” that allow wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government to become citizens of EU states and gain access to their financial systems.
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Source: Rosbalt
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
