I think you’re underestimating the risk - it’s clear (to me anyway) that you cannot move money around at the request of a sanctioned entity; even if the money doesn’t “flow through” them, influence, goodwill and connections do - all of which are reasonable attack vectors for the sanctioned entity (Russia).

Any potential downside far outweighs the upside. Apple does not want to get on the State Department’s shit list, period, and certainly not to do goodwill efforts for the Russians.