U.S. halts cyber operations against Russia amid Ukraine talks
The United States has halted its cyber operations against Russia. According to U.S. media, the order issued by the Secretary of Defense of Cyber Command is part of President Donald Trump's efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, which critics view as favoring Moscow, as reported by the Washington Post.
The newspaper reports that the decision comes as Trump seems to be undertaking a significant reversal of the United States' 80-year foreign policy, showing a clear willingness to abandon European allies and align with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his plans for Ukraine.
According to the source, the pause will remain in place during diplomatic talks.
The pause involves operations that typically detect or interrupt Russian malware before it can be deployed against American systems. A former senior defense official stated that suspending these efforts, even temporarily, could give Russian hackers the opportunity to regroup and strengthen their offensive capabilities.
Cybersecurity experts warn that the Trump administration’s decision benefits one of America’s most active cyber adversaries, weakening the United States’ ability to act in both cyber operations and conventional military actions.
The order from Hegseth contradicts the administration’s stated intention to adopt a more aggressive cyber policy against U.S. adversaries. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had previously suggested a shift toward stronger cyber deterrence, particularly against China and Iran, but omitted Russia from his comments.
At a recent United Nations cybersecurity meeting, a State Department official highlighted cyber threats from China but did not mention Russian-backed ransomware groups targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, including fuel pipelines and hospitals.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
