BEIJING, China (Reuters) — President Vladimir Putin said on Monday (May 15) that Russia saw no need to arm the Syrian Kurds, but said Moscow would maintain working contacts with them.
Putin said the fact that the Kurds were engaged in the fight against Islamic State militants meant it made sense to maintain working contacts with them however “even if it’s only to avoid (accidental) clashes.”
Putin also that intelligence services should be aware of the risks of creating software that can be used for malicious means, alluding to the WannaCry ransomware worm.
Putin was referring to reports that the hacking tool was originally developed by the United States intelligence agency, the National Security Agency, and stolen by hackers.
Speaking to reporters in Beijing, where he is taking part in a conference, Putin said that Russian organizations had been affected, but that “there was no significant damage.” He denied Russia was behind the malware.
Russian president also said an impromptu piano rendition he gave on the sidelines of a meeting in Beijing had been hampered by an out of tune instrument.
Putin was captured on camera on Sunday sitting down at a grand piano in a Chinese state residence, and performing a few slightly hesitant chords of two popular Soviet-era compositions, “Moscow Windows” and “Evening Song.”
Asked at the news briefing about his performance, Putin said he had just been idly toying around with the keys while he waited for his meeting to start with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an international forum.