Remarks in an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure for Greenville, Delaware

Ransomware Attacks on U.S. Companies

Q. Mr. President, does it make sense to attack the servers that are used in Russia to carry out——

The President. [Inaudible]

Q. Does it make sense to attack the servers that are used to carry out these ransom attacks in Russia?

The President. To attack them?

Q. Well——

The President. Well, what happened was there was one company that got—I mean, they weren't specifically attacking servers; they were attacking businesses.

Q. I mean the U.S. response. Up until now, the U.S. response has been to exercise sanctions—impose sanctions on Russia for this malign activity. Does it make sense for the U.S. to take it up a notch and attack the actual servers that are used?

The President. Yes.

Russia-U.S. Relations

Q. Sir, what are the consequences for Putin if he does not step up against cyber attacks?

The President. Well, we set up a committee—joint committee. They're meeting on, I think, the 16th. And I believe we're going to get some cooperation.

Thank you.

Q. Mr. President, what do you expect President Putin—[inaudible]—what do you expect him to do? What are those actions?

The President. It's not appropriate for me to say what I expect him to do now. But we'll see.

Thank you.