Russia has intensified cyber operations against Ukraine and NATO countries, according to previous U.S. intelligence and private sector reports.

The pause that Hegseth ordered is meant to remain in effect while negotiations to end Russia’s war on Ukraine are ongoing, the Washington Post reported.

U.S. President Donald Trump has frozen military aid to Ukraine, just days after publicly confronting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House and accusing him of being insufficiently grateful for Washington's backing.

U.S. officials said the halt in military funding, an extraordinary pressure tactic, would be lifted if Ukraine’s president shows an openness to peace talks.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has paused offensive cyberoperations against Russia by U.S. Cyber Command, rolling back some efforts to contend with a key adversary even as national security experts call for the U.

Democratic lawmakers are demanding an explanation from the Pentagon over an order to pause offensive cyber operations against Russia during negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The pause in such cyber operations,

A U.S. official says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered U.S. Cyber Command to halt offensive cyber operations against Russia. NBC News’ Yamiche Alcindor reports on how the Trump administration is changing its posture towards Russia amid tensions with Ukraine.