The Voice News: Moscow, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Western tech companies still operating in Russia must be “strangled,” following claims that American firms like Microsoft and Zoom continue to have a presence in the country despite sanctions and corporate exits.
Speaking during a business leaders’ meeting at the Kremlin on Monday, Putin responded to concerns raised by Russian entrepreneur Stanislav Yodkovsky, who heads a local video conferencing firm. Yodkovsky criticized the ongoing use of Microsoft and Zoom products by Russian consumers, arguing that such usage costs Russian businesses “billions” of rubles annually.
“You just have to strangle them. I agree completely,” Putin stated. “I say it without any embarrassment, because they are trying to strangle us. We need to reciprocate. That’s it.”
His remarks follow broader efforts by the Russian government to limit the influence of Western tech companies after the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which prompted many Western firms to exit or restrict services in Russia.
Microsoft, for instance, began withdrawing from the Russian market in 2022 and has since intensified its disengagement, halting software license renewals and limiting access to its cloud services. Zoom also ceased sales and services in Russia around the same period.
Yodkovsky called on the Kremlin to further restrict the functionality of such foreign tech services, saying companies that exited the Russian market should no longer be allowed to maintain any influence.
Putin’s fiery rhetoric aligns with his administration’s broader push to develop domestic alternatives and reduce dependence on Western technologies. The statement adds to ongoing geopolitical tensions and signals a more aggressive stance towards Western digital infrastructure in Russia.