By SCM Staff Writer I Thursday, Nov. 20.25
MOSCOW, Russia – Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling warning about the dangers of relying on Western technology, declaring that Russia must achieve total “technological sovereignty” in the booming field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The hardline Russian President stressed that his nation is now in a race to build its own independent systems to avoid becoming dependent on foreign tech giants.
In a dramatic statement, Putin insisted: “Russia CANNOT allow AI & tech dependence on foreign systems — [it’s] a matter of technological sovereignty.”
It’s clear the strongman is desperate to stop Moscow’s military and state secrets from being exposed to the West via software and hardware built in the US, China, and Europe.
He added that Russia “must possess a whole range of its own technologies and products in the field of generative and artificial intelligence.”
This aggressive push signals a new front in the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West – a high-stakes Cyber Cold War where data and algorithms are the new missiles.
The comments come as Russia continues to face tough economic sanctions, which have made it increasingly difficult to acquire cutting-edge microchips and software from global markets.
Sanctions Impact: Since the invasion of Ukraine, Western nations have imposed severe sanctions, specifically targeting Russia’s access to advanced technology, microchips, and computing hardware. This has crippled their ability to import the necessary components for modern AI development.
Fear of Backdoors: Russia’s leadership has long held a deep suspicion that Western-made software and hardware contain ‘backdoors’ or vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign intelligence agencies. Achieving “sovereignty” means eliminating this risk entirely.
Military and State Use: AI is crucial for modern military strategy (e.g., drone guidance, intelligence analysis, automated defence systems).
Putin’s push ensures that these critical applications are not reliant on potentially compromised foreign systems.
Global AI Race: Nations worldwide are racing to dominate AI, viewing it as the most critical technology of the next century.
Putin’s statement positions Russia’s AI development as an essential matter of national security and geopolitical power, not just a commercial goal.
