Posted on 06/18/21
| News Source: i24
US President states 16 ‘untouchable’ entities, threatening Russia with reprisals in case of cyber attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Joe Biden reached an agreement on Wednesday in Geneva as part of an international summit between the two countries.
The objective of the meeting was to establish a pragmatic personal relationship to break the diplomatic impasse between the United States and Russia.
Several contentious subjects between the two countries were discussed including the return of their respective ambassadors, recalled earlier this year.
Cybersecurity issues were also raised.
After the cyber-attacks on major sectors of the American economy, including the distribution of gasoline, the subject of computer security dominated the two leaders’ first meeting since Biden became the 46th President of the US.
He set red lines for Putin – stating 16 "untouchable" entities, including water distribution and energy infrastructure – threatening Russia with reprisals if they were hacked.
"I pointed out to him that we have a significant cybernetic capacity," he told the media. "If Russia violates some basic standards, we will respond. He knows it," the Democrat added.
Several American companies, including the oil pipeline network Colonial, have recently been targeted by ransomware attacks, a program that encrypts computer systems and requires payment to unlock them.