President Joe Biden met with Russian President Vladmir Putin on June 16 to ask Mr. Putin for help in crushing growing ransomware attacks in the U.S., according to a June 16 report by The Wall Street journal.
"The talks were quite constructive," Mr. Putin said, confirming that he and President Biden agreed to begin consultations in cybersecurity initiatives.
Five things to know:
- The two world leaders were expected to meet to discuss how Russia can do its part in breaking up hacker networks, since many cybergangs live within Russian borders.
- Mr. Putin said he is interested in exchanging dialogue with President Biden, adding that he is a more predictable leader than former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Journal reported.
- Both parties acknowledged the relationship between the two powerhouses has reached a post-Cold War low in the last few years, with Russia even adding the U.S. to its list of unfriendly nations.
- President Biden has previously described Mr. Putin as a killer who lacks a human soul, but this week called him "a worthy adversary," being careful not to ignite tension in preparation for the meeting, according to the Journal.
- The meeting directly follows several meetings among international leaders where joint statements were issued committing to keep ransomware at the top of their political agendas.