Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba expressed his gratitude to Anglo-Dutch company Shell plc for the announced intention to phase out participation in all Russian hydrocarbon projects, including oil, petroleum products, gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

"Grateful to Shell for taking this moral and responsible step and encourage other world businesses to follow suit," Kuleba said on Twitter on Tuesday.

As reported, Shell on Tuesday announced its intention to withdraw from Russian oil and gas companies in accordance with new government guidelines. "As an immediate first step, we will stop all spot purchases of Russian crude oil, shut service stations, aviation fuels & lubricants operations in Russia," the company said in a statement.