PatPal Blocks New Russian Users

PayPal/Photo: Between

JAKARTA - PayPal's online payment platform has stopped accepting new users from Russia starting Wednesday, March 2 local time. PayPal, quoted from Reuters, Thursday, March 3, only allows cross-border transactions for users in Russia. The platform has already blocked a number of users and major banks after the United States and several other countries sanctioned Russia for the attack on Ukraine. A PayPal spokesman said they, like other companies, are actively paying attention to the direction of these sanctions. Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Alexander Bornyakov , during an interview with Reuters, asked PayPal to close their services in Russia. "If PayPal supports democratic values, it must leave Russia," said Bornyakov. Bornyakov also asked PayPal to help raise donations. An email from Ukraine to PayPal, seen by Reuters, requested a fundraiser for the army. PayPal forbids involvement with ammunition and weapons.

PayPal supports Ukraine through cross-border transactions and the Xoom service for international remittances. "Since this crisis began, PayPal has been actively working to launch donations to non-profit fundraisers to support humanitarian aid in Ukraine," PayPal said. Russia responded to these sanctions by banning investors. foreigners, who have assets in the form of stocks and bonds worth billions of dollars, leave the country.