WH: Cyberattack on meat producer likely from Russia

The White House says it is offering assistance to the world's largest meat processing company, JBS, after a cyberattack crippled the Australian-based company.

JBS USA said in a statement Monday that it was the target on Sunday of an “organized cybersecurity attack” affecting some of its servers supporting its North American and Australian IT systems.

White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during an in-air gaggle Tuesday aboard Air Force One that the White House and the Department of Agriculture have spoken to JBS leadership "several times in the last day" to offer support.

She said "JBS notified the administration that the ransom demand came from a criminal organization likely based in Russia."

Jean-Pierre said the administration is "engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals."

Still, she said the latest attack will not affect the face-to-face meeting between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month, which Jean-Pierre called "a vital part of defending America's interests."

"Hearing directly from President Putin is the most effective way to understand Russia plans and intends," she said.

Asked about reports that the United States evesdropped from Denmark on leading politicians and senior officials in Europe, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, from 2012-2014, Jean-Pierre said only that the administration "will work with our European allies and partners to address any questions through the appropriate national security channels."

Danish broadcaster DR reported that a probe with the Danish military intelligence agency into the the National Security Agency’s surveillance from Denmark during the years 2012 and 2014 show that NSA eavesdropped on political leaders and officials in Germany, France, Sweden and Norway.