McDonald’s in Russia: departure is about a lot more than burgers

Stung by its honeymoon with westernisation, Putin's way of restoring Russian relevance has been to tear up global norms

• Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates

When the first McDonald's in Moscow opened 32 years ago, the line of Russians waiting outside was hundreds of metres long, and there were long queues again this week for a last Happy Meal and a slice of history, as the fast-food giant closes its doors in Russia.

The shuttering of 850 McDonald's franchises around the country is supposed to be temporary, but nothing about the war in Ukraine and the consequent exodus of western companies suggests the rift will be healed any time soon.