Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian government and the country’s largest bank, Sberbank, to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), according to Reuters.

This decision follows Putin’s earlier statement that Russia would collaborate with BRICS partners and other nations to advance AI development.

“To ensure further co-operation with the People’s Republic of China in technological research and development in the field of artificial intelligence,” his statement says.

Reuters reports that these moves may have been driven by Western sanctions aimed at restricting Moscow’s access to the technologies needed to sustain its war efforts against Ukraine. The halt in exports of key microchips by major global producers has severely limited Russia’s ambitions in AI development.

By cooperating with non-Western countries, Russia appears to be seeking to challenge US dominance in one of the most promising and important technologies of the 21st century.

Russia currently ranks 31st out of 83 countries in terms of AI implementation, innovation, and investment, significantly lagging not only behind the US and China but also other BRICS members like India and Brazil.

Previously, we reported that the Russian military is working on AI-powered Shahed drones, aiming to create drone swarms.

Additionally, the US does not accuse American companies, whose products Russia uses in missile production, of violating export controls. Their components continue to be supplied through intermediaries.