A major test of the political implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine comes next month when incumbent Emmanuel Macron faces Marine Le Pen, among others, in France’s presidential election. Le Pen’s National Rally party — formerly the National Front — is known to have financed its operations by borrowing money from a Russian bank closely associated with Vladimir Putin’s cronies.

Soliciting and accepting such financial backing as well as making statements generally supportive of Putin have Le Pen and the other challengers scrambling to explain their actions and distance themselves from the Russian regime, when the rest of Europe is suddenly united in opposition to it. “The four leading candidates competing against Macron for the presidency,” Politico reports, “have either openly supported [Putin] during their campaign or avoided explicitly criticizing Russia.”

“The world will get a good sense of how strong the far-right nationalists still are next month,” says João Sousa, managing director of the Council’s European office in Brussels. “But there is no question the prevailing spirit throughout Europe is democratic and internationalist, and opposed to Putin and his invasion of a democratic country that wants to be part of the larger European system. Even Switzerland has abandoned its historic posture of neutrality this time.”

So far, the hyper-nationalism that has seemed ascendant in European politics — characterized in the U.S. by former President Trump’s emphasis on “America First” — seems to be easing. In many ways, this is a rare moment in which European Union countries as well as businesses based there and in the U.S. seem unanimous in their support for Ukraine. They are taking serious steps to make the Kremlin pay, and they have proceeded to do so in a matter of days.

How Businesses Are Responding

The response of businesses with global operations has also been swift and decisive, with notable implications for public affairs. Companies are suspending sales (General Motors, Microsoft and Nike) halting shipments (UPS and FedEx) and closing stores (McDonalds’s and Starbucks) in Russia, all while law firms, accounting firms, consultancies and lobbying groups are cutting ties with Russian clients. Adidas has pulled out of its relationship with the Russian Football Union and Walt Disney Co. is ceasing the release of new movies in Russia.

“At least six lobbying firms that previously represented now-sanctioned Russian banks and companies tied to a Russian national gas pipeline terminated their contracts or representation,” CNN reported in late February. This “exodus marks the rupture of a Moscow-to-K-Street conduit that has long employed former federal officials and members of Congress of both parties.”

K Street firms have closed their Moscow offices, terminating contracts with clients “that would run afoul of U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia,” Rollcall reports, representing what Politico calls  “a potential watershed moment on K Street.”

Business organizations in many sectors are also making financial contributions, some through programs that match employee contributions, to Ukraine relief. Accenture is donating $5 million to humanitarian relief and matching its employees’ donations, Fedex provided $1 million in in-kind shipping to organizations that are transporting supplies into the area, and Sanofi donated 5 million euros ($5.5 million) to the Red Cross for Ukraine and neighboring countries. (Here, from the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, is a useful roundup of who is doing what.)