Putin calls for "throttling" Microsoft and Zoom in Russia, urges development of domestic alternatives

What just happened? Vladimir Putin doesn't believe Western companies that left Russia after it invaded Ukraine should still be operating in the country. The president said that the likes of Microsoft and Zoom should be "throttled" and "strangled" in Russia, which should produce its own domestic alternatives to replace them. Microsoft was one of many companies to suspend sales in Russia and start removing its presence from the country following the start of Putin's "special operation" in Ukraine at the start of 2022. But more than three years later, a number of Russian companies continue to use Microsoft products alongside others from Western firms like Zoom. Russian business leaders pointed out the situation to Putin during a meeting on Monday. "We've welcomed them, offered favorable conditions, but they've chosen to throttle us," Putin stated. "We must not tolerate platforms that undermine our sovereignty," he added. "We need to throttle them. I completely agree, and I say this wit ... Read full article.