As Ukraine marks the 35th anniversary of its independence, celebrated on 24 August commemorating Ukraine’s Declaration of Independence of 1991, Italy as incumbent Lead Nation of the Tallinn Mechanism pays tribute to the courage, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people, who remain resolute in defending their freedom, and the right to determine their own future in the face of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression.
This anniversary carries profound significance both for Ukraine and for the international community. The anniversary is a celebration of Ukraine’s statehood and national identity, as well as a solemn reminder of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations upon which global security and order are based: sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and the prohibition of the use of force.
In this context, the Tallinn Mechanism – bringing together Member States, observers, Ukrainian authorities and public and private expertise – aims to deliver timely and coordinated civilian cyber assistance aligned with Ukraine’s priorities. By translating international solidarity into operational capabilities, the Mechanism contributes to strengthening Ukraine’s cyber resilience and protecting the digital infrastructure, institutions, and services on which Ukrainian citizens strongly rely.
The relevance of the Tallinn Mechanism’s assistance to Ukrainian civil institutions is underscored by an environment of sustained hybrid warfare and ruthless attacks on civilian targets in which Russia’s aggression against Ukraine extends beyond the conventional battlefield, also targeting Ukraine’s digital ecosystem, public institutions, critical infrastructure and essential services through malicious cyber operations. These are part of a broader hybrid warfare campaign against civilian entities, aiming at weakening the resilience of the Ukrainian social fabric and undermining security and stability.
The work of the Tallinn Mechanism reflects a broader commitment to an open, free, secure, stable and peaceful cyberspace, where human rights are respected, international law applied, and States act in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the framework of responsible state behaviour in the use of ICTs.
We condemn malicious cyber activity, and we will continue to work together at the national level and in multilateral fora to increase accountability in cyberspace. We are committed to deepening our cooperation further, including through closer coordination, information sharing and joint efforts to prevent, address and respond to malicious cyber activities, including state-sponsored ones.
On Ukraine’s Independence Day, Italy as incumbent Lead Nation of the Tallinn Mechanism states the latter’s commitment to helping Ukraine protect its institutions, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as to strengthening its digital infrastructure and build long-term cyber resilience for the benefit of all its citizens and the international community as a whole.
On this solemn occasion, Italy as incumbent Lead Nation of the Tallinn Mechanism renews the latter’s friendship with the Ukrainian people and reaffirms its steadfast support for Ukraine’s freedom and independence. We also confirm our commitment to the fundamental values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, including through Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. We will continue to support Ukraine, until a just and lasting peace is secured.
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