<16> Mirror Summit on the 16th... Cooperation Expected to Discuss Mutual Extradition of Cyber Criminals and More

Ahead of June 16 Russia-US Summit, Putin Proposes "Mutual Indemnity"
Biden Responds "Open to It"... Possibility of Cyber Cooperation
Focus on Bilateral Cooperation Discussions Amid Worst-Ever Russia-US Relations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] On the 16th (local time), ahead of the US-Russia summit, US President Joe Biden expressed that he is "open" to Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal regarding the mutual extradition of cybercriminals between the United States and Russia. As relations between the US and Russia deteriorate, there is speculation that cooperation in the field of cybercrime will be discussed at the upcoming summit.

At a press conference following the G7 summit on the 13th, President Biden stated his willingness to discuss the issue in response to President Putin's mention of mutual extradition of cybercriminals.

President Biden described Putin's proposal as a "potentially good sign for progress," adding, "If hackers based in the United States are indeed committing such crimes, we are open to extraditing them to Russia."

Earlier, President Putin said in an interview released that day, according to TASS news agency, "If we agree on the extradition of criminals, Russia will naturally do so only if the United States agrees and extradites corresponding criminals to Russia."

Putin's proposal came after the recent ransomware attacks on Colonial Pipeline, the largest US oil pipeline company, and JBS, the world's largest meat processing company.

These companies temporarily halted operations due to the ransomware attacks, with the pipeline shutdown triggering panic buying of gasoline and gas across the southeastern United States.

The US has pointed to hacker groups based in Russia as being behind these attacks.

The Washington Post analyzed that President Biden's positive reception of Putin's mutual extradition proposal ahead of their first meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, raises the possibility of cooperation between the two countries in the cybercrime domain.

Earlier, Ned Price, spokesperson for the US State Department, said that issues related to "ransomware attacks" are expected to be on the agenda at the US-Russia summit.

There is also speculation that President Biden will leave room for cooperation between the two countries on climate change issues during the summit.

White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said, "President Biden will convey the United States' concerns to President Putin on various issues including ransomware attacks, the Ukraine civil war, and human rights violations," but added, "He will seek cooperation on matters where collaboration is possible."

Regarding Putin's remark that US-Russia relations are at a 'low point,' President Biden said, "The relationship depends on how he (Putin) responds to behavior consistent with international norms, but in many cases, he does not."

Earlier, on the 11th, President Putin said in an interview with NBC News, "Relations between the two countries have remained at their lowest point due to the deterioration of relations with the United States over the past few years."

In particular, tensions have escalated with the expulsion of diplomats. In March, after President Biden called Putin a "killer" in relation to the attempted poisoning of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, Russian authorities retaliated by recalling Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the US.

Subsequently, in April, the US expelled 10 Russian diplomats citing reasons including interference in the US presidential election, federal agency hacking incidents, and involvement in the Ukraine civil war. Russia responded by expelling 10 US diplomats.

Russian authorities also pressured John Sullivan, the US ambassador to Russia, to return to the US, leading to Sullivan's departure from Russia at the end of April.

CNN reported that President Biden is expected to discuss the return of the two countries' ambassadors during this summit.