Putin Threatens Retaliation Against Tech Giants Like Zoom & Microsoft

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his intent to “throttle” and “strangle” major U.S. tech firms such as Microsoft and Zoom within Russia, advocating for the development of homegrown alternatives.

Speaking at a meeting with Russian business leaders focused on evaluating key sectors and the nation’s economy, Putin responded to concerns about U.S. companies continuing operations despite announcing their withdrawal from the country. Microsoft, for instance, stated it was ceasing sales in Russia back in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. Zoom has also faced criticism from Russian lawmakers for several years.

“We need to strangle them. I completely agree,” Putin stated, according to the Anadolu Agency. “I say this without any embarrassment, because they are trying to strangle us. We need to reciprocate.”

Neither Microsoft nor Zoom immediately responded to requests for comment.

Putin’s Remarks Follow Trump’s Criticism

Putin’s statements come after former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized him on Truth Social, asserting that Putin had become “absolutely CRAZY” due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Trump stated, “He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”

McDonald’s Also Targeted

Putin also took aim at McDonald’s, which similarly exited Russia after the war in Ukraine began, citing a conflict with its core values.

“It is impossible to ignore the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine,” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski wrote at the time. “And it is impossible to imagine the Golden Arches representing the same hope and promise that led us to enter the Russian market 32 years ago.”

Putin questioned, “They put everyone in a difficult position, ran away, and now, if they want to come back, should we pave the way for them? Of course not.” McDonald’s has not yet commented on Putin’s most recent remarks, but reiterated its commitment to staying out of the country in a letter to a Ukrainian advocacy group last month.

Putin further lamented that Western companies leaving due to “political pressures” have negatively impacted Russian businesses. “Some companies left their Russian partners in a difficult situation,” he said.

Keywords: Putin, Russia, Microsoft, Zoom, Ukraine, Trump, Technology, Retaliation, Economic Sanctions