Established in 2022, the international coalition B4Ukraine (Business for Ukraine) brings together more than 90 civil society organisations, including NAKO. The coalition aims to restrict Russia's access to the economic resources that are funding its war against Ukraine.
According to B4Ukraine, transnational corporations paid at least $60 billion taxes in Russia between 2022 and 2024. This equates to nearly half of the Russia's military budget for 2025. As of November 2024, 1,599 transnational corporations were still conducting business in Russia via subsidiaries.
B4Ukraine is calling on international companies to leave the Russian market, so that their taxes and other payments do not contribute to the financing of the war. By May 2025, coalition members had sent 222 letters to companies that had not yet left Russia, inviting them to engage in dialogue, and to companies that no longer operate in Russia, asking them to share their experiences. As a result of this initiative, B4Ukraine received responses from 39% of companies, holding meetings with Beiersdorf, Keysight Technologies, Raiffeisen Bank, Novartis, Qualcomm, Michelin, Metro, Vitol, Match Group, Bayer, Intel, Peninsula Petroleum, Shell, Electrolux, Unilever, the Coca-Cola Company.
In addition, the coalition collects information on profits and taxes paid, Russian subsidiaries and public statements by these companies. This includes Europe's largest bank, Raiffeisen Bank International, which pays around $450 million in taxes to the Russian government each year. Another example is the American company PepsiCo, which still has 19 factories operating in Russia.
The coalition also supports tightening restrictions on the sale of Russian oil and gas, as well as eliminating loopholes that allow the Russian military–industrial complex to access Western technologies for weapons production.
'For NAKO, cooperation with B4Ukraine is extremely important as it has enabled us to coordinate our advocacy efforts, agree on our messaging, organise meetings with government officials, and convey the position of Ukrainian civil society in key capitals. Together, we have created a unique channel of influence on international sanctions policy,' said NAKO Executive Director Olena Tregub.
