- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that Russia would send wanted cybercriminals to the U.S. if the U.S. would also agree to such extraditions
- The extradition offer follows a series of high-profile cyberattacks on U.S. companies originating from Russia
- During a press conference in Cornwall, Britain on Sunday, Biden described Putin’s offer to exchange criminals as “potentially a good sign” concerning the upcoming talks
MOSCOW, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that Russia would send wanted cybercriminals to the U.S. if the U.S. would also agree to such extraditions.
The announcement came days before Putin is to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at a Wednesday summit.
“If we agree on extradition of criminals, then Russia will naturally do that, but only if the other side, in this case the United States, agrees to the same and will also extradite corresponding criminals to the Russian Federation,” Putin said, as reported by Russian media.
The extradition offer follows a series of high-profile cyberattacks on U.S. companies originating from Russia.
Wednesday’s planned U.S.-Russia summit will take place in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting with Putin follows days of consultations with Biden and world leaders during the G7 gathering, as well as NATO meetings.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has confirmed that the ongoing cyberattacks “will be a topic of direct discussion with President Putin and President Biden.”
During a press conference in Cornwall, Britain on Sunday, Biden described Putin’s offer to exchange criminals as “potentially a good sign” concerning the upcoming talks.
In April, Biden imposed sanctions on some three dozen Russian individuals and entities for their seeking to interfere in the 2020 presidential election, as well as for committing cyberattacks on at least nine government agencies and dozens of companies.
