US President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly put a pause on its cyber operations targeting Russia, as efforts continue to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The reasoning behind this decision has not been disclosed, and it is still unclear how long the pause will last. The Department of Defense has chosen not to comment further.
The directive from the Trump administration to suspend cyber operations reportedly came before a televised disagreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Since returning to power, Trump has adopted a softer stance towards Moscow in his attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine, following Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago.
Trump also appeared to support Moscow’s justification for starting the war and announced plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, the US has aligned itself with Russia during recent United Nations votes related to the conflict. At the same time, Trump has criticized Zelensky, labeling him a dictator and accusing him of provoking a potential World War III during their confrontation in the Oval Office.
The suspension of American cyber operations against Russia was issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in new guidance to US Cyber Command, according to officials who spoke to CBS News. The decision has raised concerns over the effectiveness of the US’s cyber defense against Russian hacking, election interference, and sabotage efforts targeting Western nations supporting Ukraine.
Hundreds or thousands of personnel could be impacted by Hegseth’s order, according to The Record, a cybersecurity publication that first reported the news. Operations aimed at fortifying Ukraine’s digital defenses are likely among those affected.
The defense department’s senior official stated that they would not comment on the issue due to operational concerns but emphasized that top priority is given to the safety of military personnel, including those involved in cyber operations.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz denied any policy change had been discussed but acknowledged in an interview on CNN that “all kinds of carrots and sticks” would be used to bring an end to the war.
Some senior members of Trump’s team, who recently met with their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia without including the Ukrainians, have defended their new approach towards Moscow. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that being confrontational and using antagonizing language would not bring Russia to the negotiating table and advised a more measured approach.
However, senior Democrat Chuck Schumer, the House minority leader, labeled the move as “a critical strategic mistake” in a statement to The New York Times. According to Schumer, Trump seemed to be giving Russian President Putin “a free pass” as Russia continues its cyber operations and ransomware attacks against critical American infrastructure.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2er34w0jgdo
