US Halts Counteractions Amidst Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Under the Trump administration, several U.S. national security operations aimed at countering Russian aggression have been halted or slowed, reducing pressure on Moscow amidst its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These efforts, originally initiated under Biden's leadership, involved coordination between at least seven national security agencies and European allies to combat Russian hybrid warfare tactics. Since Trump's inauguration, the National Security Council has ceased coordinating these efforts, and regular meetings with European partners have not occurred. The suspension of these activities comes as Trump seeks to restore ties with Russia and broker a peace deal in Ukraine, raising concerns about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine and its allies. The halt has reportedly affected various initiatives, including those tracking Russian sabotage, disinformation, and cyber operations. It remains unclear whether these changes were directly ordered by Trump or if agencies acted independently.