International cooperation in cybersecurity: results of the Tallinn Mechanism
On 23–24 April in Kyiv, the seventh working meeting of the Tallinn Mechanism took place with representatives of participating countries, following the previous meeting in Brussels, Belgium. Established in December 2023, the Tallinn Mechanism aims to coordinate international assistance to bolster Ukraine’s national cybersecurity and cyber resilience, protect critical infrastructure, and counter russian cyber operations.
“The world’s response to russian aggression will shape the architecture of global security and economy for decades to come. In today’s interconnected digital space, where cyber threats transcend borders, timely and lasting results can only be achieved through coordinated efforts, capacity building, experience and information sharing, public-private partnerships, and joint initiatives,” stressed Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha.
The initiative unites Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The Czech Republic, Norway, South Korea, and the European External Action Service participated as observers. The goal is to enhance partner countries’ support for Ukraine in protecting civilian and critical infrastructure, as well as strengthening Ukraine’s cyber resilience and capabilities. Estonia currently serves as the TM’s front office.
“The Tallinn Mechanism has become a platform for international cooperation in protecting civilian infrastructure. Amid a technological war, it is vital to bolster our cyber resilience, share expertise with partners, adopt best practices, and enhance our ability to defend in cyberspace. It is symbolic that we are holding this meeting in Kyiv during air raid alerts and shelling – war is ongoing across all domains, and we must be more united than ever,” emphasised Deputy Prime Minister for Innovations, Education, Science, and Technology Development – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.
Discussions in Kyiv focused on expanding international donor participation, increasing implemented projects, assessing Ukraine’s current cybersecurity needs and challenges, and exploring ways to engage the private sector in future activities.
“Ukraine is on the frontline of the most technologically advanced war in the world. In these conditions, the Tallinn Mechanism exemplifies coordinated international support that strengthens our cyber resilience. We highly value the partnership that helps us respond to threats and build a secure digital environment for Ukraine and the democratic world,” noted Deputy Minister for European Integration at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Valeriya Ionan.
The Tallinn Mechanism has become a model for effective international cybersecurity coordination. Its activities include systematic assessments of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure cyber protection needs, ongoing communication and support from partner countries, provision of equipment and technological solutions to enhance cyber resilience, and training for Ukrainian specialists. A mechanism for actively engaging the private sector in joint projects is currently being developed.
Tanel Sepp, Ambassador at Large and Director-General for the Cyber Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, stated that cyber threats do not respect national borders and that Estonia was one of the first countries to face large-scale cyberattacks from Russia. He explained that this was why they supported Ukraine and helped counter aggression in cyberspace. He added that ongoing international cooperation within the Tallinn Mechanism was key to addressing growing cyber risks and ensuring a safer digital future for Ukraine, Europe, and the world.
To date, the Tallinn Mechanism has launched dozens of initiatives: cybersecurity assessments have been conducted, training programmes implemented, and Ukraine has been provided with Starlink terminals, which are actively supporting the country’s digital resilience.