Biden issues warning to Putin: US “will take any necessary action”

Reporter”The top of the readout suggests that it was partly sort of a pleasant call, the leaders to know that they’re doing work. So, can you explain why President Bush was at all pleasant in his call when it seemed that there are all of these ransomware attacks coming from Russia that may have been government approved?”

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary: “I would say the reason that they commended the work of their teams is this is consistent with the president’s view that diplomacy includes working together where there is opportunity and agreement and being clear and candid and forthright when there’s disagreement. And this call is an example of that. So, because of their agreement and the discussion they had in Geneva, the U.N. Security Council is going to extend access for humanitarian corridors, providing assistance, humanitarian assistance to people in Syria. That’s something that is pivotal and that is going to save lives. That is something to be commended. At the same time, the president made clear, as I think you could see in the readout that he underscored the need for President Putin to take action to disrupt these ransomware groups. While REvil, we know operates in Russia and other countries around the world and we don’t have additional or new information suggesting the Russian government directed these attacks, we also know and we also believe that they have a responsibility, they have a responsibility to take action. And as you can see in the readout, the president also made clear that the United States will take any necessary action to defend its people and its critical infrastructure. So this was an example of leader to leader diplomacy, something the president feels as vital as he operates in the world.”

Reporter: “Did he raise the volume of a similar message in their call today, or did he amplify it in any way or did he just repeat it?”

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary: “Well, I think as the readout makes clear, he reiterated that the United States will take any necessary action to defend its people and its critical infrastructure. And he also reiterated his expectation that President Putin take action even if it is not directed by the Russian government and if it is because of criminal actors in his own country. So I’m not going to give you a tone and tenor readout here, but the president believes that this is and he’s always believed this was going to need to be an ongoing diplomatic engagement with the Russians. We’ve had expert level talks. We’ve had those talks focused on cyber, focused on ransomware. But he also understands that there’s going to need to be talks at times at the leader level.

Reporter: “You don’t have any new information that Russia was involved specifically in these attacks, is that right?”

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary: “Correct.”

Reporter: “Is the cyber group is still meeting next week – the US group and the Russian side meeting next week on cyber?”

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary: “Yes.”