John Mearsheimer said in a video after visiting Moscow that he had essentially no money during the trip because he did not know U.S. credit cards could not be used in Russia. Visa and Mastercard suspended Russian operations in 2022.
Visa and Mastercard suspended operations in Russia in 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine, and the card restrictions had been in effect for several years. Mearsheimer also discussed Russians’ inability to use U.S. cards for Western subscriptions such as The New York Times; the article notes that most international news sites are blocked in Russia, presenting another barrier.
The article says the U.S. Department of State advises Americans to avoid travel to Russia because of dangers they could face, including detention.
