From October 9 to 11, Deputy Foreign Minister, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Anton Demokhin led the Ukrainian delegation at the sixth meeting of representatives from countries participating in the Tallinn Mechanism, held in Brussels. The event was organized by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supported by the European External Action Service (EEAS) to strengthen international cooperation in cybersecurity.
On October 9, Anton Demokhin met with Benedikta von Seherr-Thoß, Managing Director for CSDP and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service. They discussed cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the field of cybersecurity.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian side was informed about the implementation of a new type of sanctions in the EU against individuals whose destructive activities pose a hybrid threat to the Union's security. As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to improve horizontal communications between the foreign policy institutions of Ukraine and the EU for better understanding and budgetary argumentation of Ukrainian requests.
The Deputy Minister noted that Ukraine highly values the dialogue with the EU regarding the introduction of cyber sanctions against hacker groups that attack government agencies and critical infrastructure. He also expressed hope that the next EU sanctions package against Russia would continue to include measures against cybercriminals.
On the same day, Anton Demokhin participated in the conference "Cyber Assistance to Ukraine and the Role of Public Private Partnership" as part of the Tallinn Mechanism partners meeting. He delivered a speech on "Ukrainian Cyber Defense two years into a full-scale war - Insights on the key role and the future of Public-Private Partnership." The event became an important platform for developing the international initiative of the Tallinn Mechanism, as participation of the private sector in assisting projects constitutes a key-factor in its operability.
Together with Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation Valeria Ionan, Anton Demokhin held a meeting with Roberto Viola, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). They discussed a wide range of issues related to digital cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, including steps towards European integration that will help Ukraine align with EU standards in the cyber sphere.
During the Tallinn Mechanism meeting, challenges in cybersecurity were discussed, including mechanisms for responding to cyber attacks, increasing state readiness for cyber threats, developing strategies for protecting critical infrastructure, as well as issues of interaction with the private sector and communication strategy.
Anton Demokhin emphasized that cybersecurity is a strategic priority for Ukraine, and participation in the Tallinn Mechanism demonstrates the country's commitment to global security principles. He stressed the importance of international support, that includes not only technical assistance but also the exchange of experience and knowledge in cyber defense, which is particularly relevant in the context of Russian aggression.
Overall, the participation of the Ukrainian delegation underscored the determination of international partners to support Ukraine in strengthening cybersecurity and implementing joint initiatives to create a secure cyberspace.