From 16 to 19 June, the TMPO team visited Tallinn for a series of meetings with key Estonian partners and stakeholders of the Tallinn Mechanism. Estonia played an important role in launching the Tallinn Mechanism. That is why strengthening cooperation with our Estonian partners remains special for us.
Meeting with ESTDEV and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Our visit started with the first in-person visit to the office of the Estonian Centre for International Development. ESTDEV supports the work of TMPO and helps strengthen the office’s coordination and institutional capacity. As an implementing partner, ESTDEV also supports projects funded by a range of countries, including Estonia, Sweden, and Norway.
During the meeting, we discussed how international support for Ukraine’s cyber resilience can become even more effective. Our conversations also focused on how we can strengthen coordination between donors and beneficiaries and raise awareness of cyber resilience initiatives among the international donor community.
On the second day, the TMPO team visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. During the meeting with Gert Antsu, Director for Ukraine, Moldova and the South Caucasus and Diplomatic Representative for the Eastern Partnership, and Mart Laanemä, Counsellor at the Digital and Cyber Diplomacy Department, we discussed the main achievements of the Tallinn Mechanism over the past two and a half years and our priorities for 2026. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the next steps for strengthening Ukraine’s cyber resilience.
One of the most memorable moments was seeing the place where the Tallinn Mechanism was first developed. It was in this building that stakeholders discussed how to coordinate international assistance and help Ukraine respond more effectively to cyber threats.
Cooperation with RIA and EU CyberNet
The discussion on international cooperation continued during our meeting with the team of RIA – the Estonian Information System Authority (NCSC-EE). We are grateful to Liina Areng, Director of EU CyberNet and President of LAC4, Carolina Leis, Head of International Relations at RIA, and cybersecurity expert Seiko Kuik for the warm welcome and insightful discussions.
RIA leads several international initiatives, including EU CyberNet, Cyber4Dev, and Interreg Europe CYBER. EU CyberNet co-funds TMPO and contributes to strengthening Ukraine’s cyber resilience. Through its global network of experts and partners, the initiative helps expand international cooperation and cyber capacity-building efforts around the world.
In the interview for the Tallinn Mechanism Platform, Liina Areng highlighted that cooperation with TMPO reflects EU CyberNet’s commitment to supporting Ukraine through a coordinated, long-term, and sustainable approach. Within the framework of the Tallinn Mechanism, EU CyberNet supports TMPO by providing technical expertise and access to a wide network of European cybersecurity professionals. This expertise can be used in various capacity-building initiatives that support Ukraine.
Meeting with the NATO CCDCOE
On the third day, the TMPO team met with representatives of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE). During the meeting, we discussed how to continue our cooperation and turn ideas into practical initiatives that strengthen Ukraine’s cyber resilience within the Tallinn Mechanism framework.
We would like to thank Laura Danilas, Head of International Relations, Erik Kursetgjerde, Norwegian Representative to CCDCOE, and Anastasiia Roskot, Ukrainian Representative to CCDCOE, for the warm welcome, productive discussions, and valuable exchange of ideas.
CCDCOE brings together 39 member nations, including NATO Allies and partner countries such as Ukraine. The Centre is widely known for organising Locked Shields, one of the world’s most advanced live-fire cyber defence exercises. Its experts also developed the Tallinn Manual, a leading analysis of how international law applies in cyberspace. Another important area of CCDCOE’s work is cyber defence education and training.
Participation in the Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School
The visit concluded with participation in the Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School 2026. The Summer School brings together diplomats, ambassadors, national cyber directors, cybersecurity experts, policymakers, and representatives of international organisations to discuss the diplomatic, legal, strategic, and practical aspects of cybersecurity.
Olesya Danylchenko, Head of TMPO, joined a panel discussion dedicated to two important international initiatives – the Tallinn Mechanism and the IT Coalition. The discussion took place at Vabamu, the Museum of Occupations and Freedom in Tallinn.
The panel also included:
-
Luukas Ilves, Co-founder of the Agentic State initiative and AI Advisor to the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Government Office of Estonia
-
Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar, Chair of the IT Coalition Steering Group
-
Lauri Luht, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Justice and Digitalisation of Estonia
During the discussion, Olesya shared the key milestones of the Tallinn Mechanism over the past two and a half years and spoke about public-private partnership through the Tallinn Mechanism Platform.
.jpg "Raigo_Pajula_Foto-7407 (1).jpg")
We would also like to thank Merle Maigre, Director of the Cybersecurity Competence Centre at the e-Governance Academy, for moderating such an engaging conversation.
We were especially pleased to see strong interest from the audience. The thoughtful questions and lively discussion once again demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in strengthening cyber resilience.
The TMPO team is grateful to our Estonian partners for their continued support, leadership, and commitment to the Tallinn Mechanism. We would like to extend special thanks to Mart Laanemä, Counsellor at the Digital and Cyber Diplomacy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, for helping organise the visit and for his support throughout our stay in Tallinn.
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
