Putin-Biden summit: US, Russia to begin talks on cyber-security

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin holds a press conference after meeting with US President at the ‘Villa la Grange’ in Geneva on June 16, 2021. GENEVA: After talks with his US counterpart Joe Biden in Geneva, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the US and Russia will begin consultations on cyber security, an issue of contention between the two countries. We believe that the cyber space is extremely important for both US and Russia, Mr Putin said. “What we need is expert-level consultations. All they (US) do is to make insinuations,” said Mr Putin at a press conference in Geneva. “Both sides have to assume certain obligations there,” Mr Putin said. Mr Putin described the talks with the US leader as “constructive.” The US suspects that key US companies such as Colonial Pipeline Co., that transports fuel in the south-eastern U.S., and the JBS meat production company, were targeted in cyberattacks which originated in Russia. US officials have alleged these companies had to pay millions of dollars in ransom demands to restore their business operations.