Trump administration scales back efforts to investigate Russia's war crimes in Ukraine

The Washington Post reported the information, citing its own sources.

The outlet noted that the Trump administration has cut the position of the coordinator of the group tasked with gathering intelligence on Russia's atrocities in Ukraine, a role created by Congress on a bipartisan basis.

“It’s a very disturbing retreat from the U.S. commitment to holding accountable the perpetrators of war crimes and aggression, particularly in the bloodiest conflict that Europe has seen since World War II,” said Eli Rosenbaum, the former head of the Justice Department war crimes unit who retired in January 2024.

Initiatives aimed at countering Moscow’s malign activities were also terminated, such as a special Justice Department unit that seized assets of Russian oligarchs and imposed export restrictions to Russia.

According to an official, the department continues to enforce export restrictions despite the disbanding of the task force. The administration also dissolved the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, which fought secret Russian influence campaigns.

• The U.S. announced the termination of the State Department’s Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference. It was aimed at combating propaganda from Russia, Iran, and China.