The Netherlands has repeatedly offered help to Ukraine in countering hack attacks. This happened immediately after a major cyber attack in Ukraine in mid-January. After that attack – in which dozens of Ukrainian government agencies were shut down – European foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell offered assistance from the Cyber Rapid Response Team, a European team of which the Netherlands is a part.
Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Rutte once again drew attention to the Dutch offer during his visit to Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kiev. But Zelensky didn’t comment on that. “It is true that the offer is there, but it has not yet been activated by Ukraine,” said Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren on Thursday evening in the House of Representatives. “They know about the EU, they know about the Netherlands, that we are prepared to provide cyber expertise. But Ukraine has to want it.”
On Friday, Ollongren reiterated that the Ukrainians have not yet accepted the offer. “Our offer stands,” she says. When asked how it is that the Ukrainians are not eager, she keeps quiet. “I do not want to make any further statements about that, that is really up to Ukraine.”
European snoopers
Cyber and intelligence expert Ronald Prins finds it ‘remarkable’ that the Ukrainians are ignoring the Dutch offer for the time being. “You would say that something like this is diplomatically coordinated when Rutte offers it in a conversation with the president. It is therefore strange that the offer is not immediately accepted.” According to Prins, there may be reticence in Ukraine. “By accepting the aid, Russia may feel challenged to more cyber-attacks. It may also be the case that Ukraine does not need European snoopers.”
There is surprise in the House of Representatives about the lack of a Ukrainian response to the Dutch offer. “I find it difficult to understand why that request has not yet been made by Ukraine,” said GL MP Corinne Ellemeet. Volt leader Laurens Dassen also says he is surprised.
In the meantime, the cabinet is still thinking about arms supplies to Ukraine, something for which the Ukrainians have submitted a request to the Netherlands. The cabinet wants to make a decision ‘within a few weeks’. “It really takes time,” Rutte said on Friday after the cabinet meeting. “Such a request should be carefully considered. We have to see what we can spare. It’s not that Defense is overflowing with stuff.” A majority in the House of Representatives supports arms supplies to Ukraine.