Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered US Cyber Command to halt offensive cyberoperations against Russia as part of what analysts say is a wider move to draw Vladimir Putin into negotiations over Ukraine. The Mail has more.
Donald Trump has signalled both publicly and privately that he no longer considers Russia a major cyber threat to US national security and critical infrastructure.
The shift, which starkly contradicts years of warnings from intelligence officials, has raised alarm among cybersecurity experts who fear that the United States is leaving itself exposed to Russian cyberattacks just as global tensions reach boiling point.
On Sunday night, it was reported that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered US Cyber Command to cease all offensive cyberoperations against Russia.
Critics warn the policy reversal appears to be driven by the administration’s warming relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Trump moves to realign US foreign policy in a way that increasingly mirrors Moscow’s interests.
“Russia and China are our biggest adversaries. With all the cuts being made to different agencies, a lot of cybersecurity personnel have been fired. Our systems are not going to be protected and our adversaries know this,” a person familiar with the shift told the Guardian.
“People are saying Russia is winning. Putin is on the inside now,” they added.
According to a current official and two former officials briefed on the classified directive, the abrupt halt is reportedly part of a broader strategic effort to lure Putin into negotiations over Ukraine and reset relations with the US.
The decision marks a significant shift in the US cyber posture against an adversary known for its aggressive digital warfare, election interference and relentless hacking campaigns.
While some insiders argue the move is a necessary step in diplomacy, critics warn that it represents a dangerous retreat that could embolden Moscow to escalate its cyberattacks on the US and its allies.
“It’s incomprehensible to give a speech about threats in cyberspace and not mention Russia and it’s delusional to think this will turn Russia and the FSB [the Russian security agency] into our friends,” James Lewis, a veteran cyber expert, told the Guardian.
“They hate the US and are still mad about losing the cold war. Pretending otherwise won’t change this.”
Hegseth’s directive, which is part of a broader reassessment of all US military operations against Russia, has yet to be publicly explained.
However, the timing of the order which was given before President Trump’s Oval Office blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are apparently part of an effort to draw Russia into talks on the war.
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