U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. File | Photo Credit: Reuters

U.S. Defense chief pauses cyber offensive against Russia: reports

The order was part of an overall reevaluation of U.S. operations against Moscow, according to The New York Times, with the duration or extent of the pause unclear

by · The Hindu

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a pause on all of the country’s cyber operations against Russia, including offensive actions, multiple U.S. media reports said on Sunday (March 2, 2025).

The order was part of an overall reevaluation of U.S. operations against Moscow, according to TheNew York Times, with the duration or extent of the pause unclear.

The Pentagon declined to comment when queried by AFP.

“Due to operational security concerns, we do not comment nor discuss cyber intelligence, plans, or operations,” a senior Defense official said.

“There is no greater priority to Secretary Hegseth than the safety of the Warfighter in all operations, to include the cyber domain.”

The reported change comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has been pushing for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, and days after the U.S. leader berated his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a stormy White House meeting.

Western countries have accused the Kremlin of masterminding a string of incidents aimed at trying to undermine support for Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion.

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Mr. Trump, meanwhile, has cast himself as a mediator between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy, sidelining Kyiv and Europe while pursuing rapprochement with Mr. Putin.

“We should spend less time worrying about Putin,” Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform late Sunday (March 2, 2025).

U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, speaking Sunday (March 2, 2025) to broadcaster CNN about reopening links to Russia, denied reports of the cyber policy change.

“That has not been part of our discussions,” Mr. Waltz said. “There will be all kinds of carrots and sticks to get this war to an end.”

Published - March 03, 2025 11:25 am IST