In the midst of a ransomware pandemic, the US is meeting with 30 countries this week to discuss cybersecurity policy, but one crucial actor is missing: Russia.
The country that unwittingly or not hosts many of the criminal syndicates behind ransomware attacks was not invited to a two-day summit beginning Wednesday to devise new anti-ransomware methods.
According to a senior administration official, the virtual discussions will focus in part on efforts to disrupt and prosecute ransomware networks like the one that attacked a major US pipeline firm in May. A cybercriminal ring based in Russia was blamed for the attack on Colonial Pipeline, which resulted in gas shortages along the East Coast.
The omission of a country so directly linked to the global ransomware epidemic underscores Moscow and Washington’s deteriorating relationship.
Despite this, the US has used a “special channel” to discuss cybersecurity with Russia, according to the person, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity ahead of a summit with roughly 30 countries and the European Union this week.
There have been “honest discussions” about cybercriminals working within Russia’s borders since President Joe Biden highlighted the subject directly with President Vladimir Putin during a summit and subsequent phone call last summer, according to the official.
