Microsoft suspends new sales in Russia

MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) - Microsoft Corporation is suspending sales of new products and services in Russia, the company said on its blog, citing President Brad Smith.

"We are announcing today that we will suspend all new sales of Microsoft products and services in Russia," it said.

"In addition, we are coordinating closely and working in lockstep with the governments of the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, and we are stopping many aspects of our business in Russia in compliance with governmental sanctions decisions," Microsoft said.

"We will take additional steps as this situation continues to evolve," it said.

"We continue to work proactively to help cybersecurity officials in Ukraine defend against Russian attacks," Microsoft said.

Interfax was unable to obtain comments from Microsoft's Russian press service.

SAP, Intel, and Oracle made similar announcements earlier.

SAP CEO Christian Klein said that the company would cease operations in Russia due to sanctions and halt all sales of SAP services and products in the country. No details were given on cessation of the company's activities in Russia.

Russian SAP subsidiary SAP CIS later told Interfax that the company is continuing to support existing clients within the framework of its contractual obligations to the extent that sanctions and export restrictions allow.

"We have put concluding new contracts in Russia on hold," it said.