Security News > 2021 > June > G7 nations call out Russia for harbouring ransomware crims ahead of Biden-Putin powwow
The G7 summit of western countries has called upon Russia to "Identify, disrupt, and hold to account those within its borders who conduct ransomware attacks, abuse virtual currency to launder ransoms, and other cybercrimes."
Coming after an 18-month period where ransomware gangs mostly operating out of Russia and Russian-allied countries have wrought havoc on the West, the statement is part of an increasing willingness to confront Russia's inaction over criminal gangs based on its turf.
A public G7 communique issued over the weekend as the politico-media gathering jetted off home from the summit's Cornwall location said "We reaffirm our call on Russia to stop its destabilising behaviour" and called on the rest of the world to join in a broader effort to "Urgently identify and disrupt ransomware criminal networks operating from within their borders, and hold those networks accountable for their actions."
The G7 announcement is intended to pile pressure onto Vladimir Putin to tackle the ransomware menace, though Russia's appetite for doing so is unclear.
Professor Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey told The Register the G7's approach could possibly bear fruit if Russia was given a large enough carrot alongside the rhetorical stick offered by the communique: "I saw a note that Putin was saying that he may be considering handing over some attackers if he is given certain assurances."
US foreign secretary Antony Blinken told NBC News on Sunday that US president Joe Biden will confront Putin over cyber attacks, saying to the TV programme: "[Biden] is going to make clear that no responsible state can be in the business of harbouring criminal enterprises engaged in cyberattacks, including ransomware.