Russia uninvited in meet of 30 countries to tackle cybercrime

US: Russia has not been invited to attend a US-led virtual meeting of 30 countries that aims to seize the increasing threat of ransomware and other cybercrimes, a senior administration executive told.

Many ransomware groups operate from Ukraine and Russia, according to private sector cybersecurity experts. Some US officials and analysts have said that Russian ransomware gangs operate with the tacit approval of the Kremlin, but are not directly controlled by the government.

The meeting will run over two days, consist of six sessions, and include topics such as the abuse of virtual money to launder ransom money, prosecution of ransomware criminals, the use of diplomacy to counteract ransomware and helping countries become more resilient to such attacks, the administration stated.

Accompanying with the United States, four nations including India, Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom will lead talks on subjects such as disruption, virtual currency and diplomacy. Other participants in the meeting include Canada, France, United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Ukraine, Ireland, Israel, South Africa and the European Union. "We are having ongoing discussions with the Russians, but in this appropriate forum they have not been invited to participate," said the senior administration official, adding that this does not prevent Russia from participating in future events.

The official said the United States is engaging directly with Russia on the ransomware issue through the United States-Kremlin Panel, led by the White House and established by President Joe Biden and the President. Russian Vladimir Putin.

The official said discussions with Russia were underway. The United States had shared information on specific criminal actors in Russia. The country had taken the first steps to address the issues raised.

President Joe Biden has raised the cybersecurity response to the greatest levels of the administration following a set of attacks this year that threatened to destabilize the United States' energy and food supply.

In May, hackers caused fuel shortages in the eastern United States when they targeted a pipeline operated by Colonial Pipeline.

The Biden administration hopes its new informal group, which it calls the Ransomware Initiative, will step up its diplomatic attempts, including direct talks with Russia, the NATO alliance, and the Group of seven rich nations.