Joint Base Andrews
Prince George's County, Maryland
3:15 P.M. EDT
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.
Q Sir, what are the consequences for Putin if he does not step up against cyberattacks?
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.
3:17 P.M. EDT
