Schumer says cyber operations pause against Russia gives Putin ‘free pass’

Top Democrat calls Trump's move to retreat from fight against Russian cyber threats a critical strategic mistake'

A senior US Democrat has hit out at Donald Trump's attempt to reset relations with Russia following revelations that the president's administration is retreating from the fight against Russian cyber threats, calling the reported move a critical strategic mistake".

In a statement on Sunday making reference to the Russian leader, New York's Chuck Schumer - the US Senate's Democratic minority leader - said Trump was so desperate to earn the affection of a thug like Vladimir Putin he appears to be giving him a free pass as Russia continues to launch cyber operations and ransomware attacks against critical American infrastructure, threatening our economic and national security".