Did the Pentagon chief order a restriction on cyberattack campaigns targeting Russia?

Specifically, according to The New York Times, sources including one current official and two former officials said that the order was issued before a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump at the White House – a meeting that subsequently ended on tense terms.

The exact scope and duration of the US Department of Defense's restrictions are currently unknown, as the lines between offensive and defensive cyber operations are often blurred.

The New York Times also noted that maintaining access to Russian networks to gather information is crucial for the U.S., particularly for understanding the intentions of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the context of potential negotiations.

Former officials warn that the decision to halt cyberattack campaigns against Russia is a risky gamble for Washington. They argue that it is unclear whether Russia will cease its cyber warfare activities against the US and European countries. The US has reportedly provided significant support to these nations in countering Russian cyberattacks.

During Trump's first term, the U.S. Cyber ​​Command was granted additional authority, allowing it to conduct cyberattack operations without direct presidential approval.

One such campaign involved "testing" Russia's power grid, potentially intended to send a serious warning about the consequences if Russia attacked critical U.S. infrastructure. Numerous news outlets, including The New York Times, reported on this campaign.

At the time, Trump called the leak of campaign information online "treason." However, his former aides later revealed that Trump was actually very concerned about how it would affect his relationship with Russian President Putin.