The Trump administration’s decision to order U.S. Cyber Command to stop offensive operations against Russia is a major strategic blunder that could have disastrous consequences for NATO, Ukraine, and global security. Right now, Russia is stepping up its cyberattacks, targeting everything from government agencies to military infrastructure, and yet, the U.S. is choosing to step back instead of fighting back. This isn’t just a small policy change—it’s a dangerous signal of weakness that could encourage even more Russian aggression.
By removing a critical layer of cyber defense, this move doesn’t just leave the U.S. exposed—it leaves NATO’s entire network vulnerable and puts Ukraine in an even more dangerous position. If Washington won’t stop Russia’s hackers, then NATO and Ukraine will have to figure out how to handle this fight on their own.
Russia’s Cyber Attacks Are Getting Worse—And Now There’s No U.S. Response
There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Russia is one of the biggest cyber threats in the world, and it’s not slowing down. In just the past few months, Russian hackers have been wreaking havoc, attacking critical infrastructure, sabotaging communication networks, and targeting Ukraine with nonstop cyber warfare.
In September 2024, U.S. and European intelligence agencies confirmed that Russian military-backed hackers had targeted power grids, banks, and government systems. These kinds of attacks aren’t just nuisances—they can cripple entire economies and throw countries into chaos. Then, in early 2025, Russia stepped up its game by sabotaging deep-sea communication cables, which are vital for military coordination and global financial transactions. Cutting off these lines messes with everything from stock markets to NATO operations, and Russia knows it.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has been dealing with nonstop cyberattacks. In December 2024, Russian hackers launched a full-scale cyberattack on Ukraine’s government registries, trying to erase official records and destabilize the entire government. And beyond that, Ukraine’s military networks are under constant assault, with Russian cyber units trying to disrupt communications, jam signals, and interfere with battlefield operations.
So with all this happening, the big question is: why on earth would the U.S. stop fighting back?
What This Means for NATO: A Weaker, More Vulnerable Alliance
NATO has always relied on U.S. cyber power to keep Russian hackers in check. Now that Washington has decided to back off, that leaves the rest of NATO’s members to figure out how to handle Russian cyber aggression on their own.
Without the U.S. taking the lead, NATO’s eastern members—like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland—are going to be the first in line for Russian cyberattacks. These countries have already been dealing with Russian hacking attempts for years, and without strong cyber defenses from the U.S., they’re at even greater risk.
To make matters worse, without U.S. intelligence-sharing, NATO’s cyber defenses are going to be much weaker. The U.S. has some of the best cyber detection and response capabilities in the world, and if those resources suddenly disappear, NATO will be operating in the dark when it comes to Russian cyber threats. And with that, the alliance itself could start to fracture. If European nations start handling cyber threats on their own instead of working together, NATO’s strength as a united front could start to break apart.
Ukraine: Left Alone Against Russia’s Digital Army
For Ukraine, this decision is a flat-out betrayal. Ukraine has been fighting a cyber war against Russia since 2014, and the U.S. has been one of its most important allies in keeping Russian hackers at bay. Now, with the U.S. stepping back, Ukraine is left with even fewer resources to defend itself against the Kremlin’s nonstop digital attacks.
This isn’t just a tech problem—cyber warfare directly affects Ukraine’s ability to fight on the battlefield. Russian hackers have already disrupted military operations, intercepted battle plans, and attacked Ukrainian weapons systems. Without U.S. cyber support, Ukraine’s defenses could be seriously weakened, and that could have devastating consequences for its war effort.
And let’s be clear: Putin will see this as a sign of weakness. If the U.S. is unwilling to keep up the pressure in cyberspace, what’s stopping him from pushing even harder, both online and on the battlefield?
How NATO and Ukraine Should Respond
With the U.S. stepping back, it’s time for NATO and Ukraine to take matters into their own hands. First, NATO needs to step up its cyber defenses—fast. That means setting up an independent NATO Cyber Command that doesn’t rely on U.S. leadership. If the U.S. won’t handle Russian cyber threats, NATO has to take on that responsibility itself.
NATO also needs to deploy cyber response teams to its most vulnerable members, like the Baltics and Poland, to stop Russian hackers from running wild. And since the U.S. is cutting off its intelligence-sharing, NATO needs to start working more closely with European allies to keep track of Russian cyber activities.
For Ukraine, NATO needs to step in and provide direct cyber assistance. That means sending NATO cyber defense teams to Kyiv to protect government networks, military systems, and critical infrastructure. It also means giving Ukraine better tools to fight back against Russian cyberattacks, so that it’s not constantly playing defense.
And most importantly, NATO needs to put real pressure on the U.S. to reverse this decision. The NATO Secretary General should call this policy out for what it is—a massive security mistake—and European leaders need to push the U.S. Congress to get involved. If Washington won’t fix this, NATO needs to make it clear that it’s not going to just sit back and let Russia dominate cyberspace.
NATO and Ukraine Cannot Afford This
The decision to halt U.S. cyber operations against Russia is a dangerous mistake that puts NATO and Ukraine at serious risk. Russia’s cyber war is only getting worse, and removing one of the biggest deterrents—U.S. cyber forces—only makes the problem bigger.
NATO needs to act now to protect its members, and Ukraine needs direct cyber support before it’s too late. This isn’t just a cyber policy change—it’s a full-scale security crisis. If NATO and Ukraine don’t push back right now, Russia will see this as an open invitation to escalate its cyber warfare even further.
The West cannot afford to let this happen. It’s time to fight back.