Trump's rapprochement with Putin: the US scales back cyber warfare against Russia.

Trump halts cyber operations against Russia

US President Donald Trump is halting offensive cyber operations against Russia as he approaches Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is reported by The Washington Post.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the cessation of offensive cyber and information operations against Russia, as Trump aims to conclude the conflict in Ukraine on terms favorable to Russia. The pause will last until negotiations are completed.

“While the cessation of operations during high-level negotiations is not unusual, this step is taken at a moment when Trump has reversed 80 years of US foreign policy and has aligned himself with Putin in their plans regarding Ukraine,” the publication notes.

Experts warn that this halts one of the most active cyber adversaries of the US. The cyber and information operations that will be halted include detecting and eliminating malware in Russian networks, blocking Russian hackers, and dismantling anti-American websites.

The temporary halt contradicts the US defense strategy, which calls for active engagement against leading cyber adversaries, including Russia.

The US intelligence community in 2017 stated that there were attempts by Russia to influence the American elections in favor of Trump.