The Netherlands should help Ukraine protect itself from hacking and cyber attacks from Russia. A cyber team could be of great service in this regard. If the Eastern European country appeals to the Dutch government, we should step into the breach. So say Ruben Brekelmans (VVD) and Sjoerd Sjoerdsma (D66) to RTL News.
Tensions between the United States, European Union and NATO, on the one hand, and Russia, on the other, are currently simmering. Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine never join NATO and that EU member states withdraw their troops from Eastern Europe. To back up his words, Putin currently has thousands of tanks and other army vehicles and more than a hundred thousand soldiers stationed along the border with Ukraine. In addition, the country is currently conducting a joint army exercise with Belarus.
Tensions are also being felt in cyberspace. Last week, several Ukrainian government websites were taken down by hackers. In a brief message, the perpetrators warned to "fear and expect the worst. Cybersecurity experts suspect UNC1151 is responsible for the recent hacking attacks. That is an international hacker group with close ties to Belarus and Russia. The group has carried out more frequent digital attacks against Eastern European countries in recent years.
U.S. President Joe Biden said last night Dutch time that he expects a Russian invasion of Ukraine. For that scenario, Biden has economic sanctions prepared. Whether that will be enough to change Russia's mind remains to be seen.
The Netherlands should not sit on its hands and do nothing, according to government parties VVD and D66. Sjoerd Sjoerdsma (D66) would prefer that the cabinet send "a fast-acting cyber team" to Ukraine. According to him, this can provide "technical assistance" that is "defensive in nature."
The VVD supports D66's call. "If Ukraine makes a request, we could certainly help in the cyber field," VVD MP Ruben Brekelmans told RTL News. He further calls for a "firm sanctions package" if Russia actually invades Ukraine. He goes on to say that European countries must take joint action against Russia. Some countries strongly criticize Russia, while others want more cooperation. "It is precisely this division that very much undermines the message of the European Union," Brekelmans said.
The Netherlands is not the first country to want to send security experts to Ukraine to protect the country from cyber attacks from Russia. The US and the UK already did so late last year in response to attacks on electricity systems and financial institutions.
The coalition partners further say the Netherlands should keep open the option of supplying weapons to Ukraine. Prime Minister Mark Rutte does not want to go that far at the moment. Together with Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra, he will visit Ukraine in the near future. There, the ministers will make the Dutch support known.
Tonight the House of Representatives will debate with Minister Hoekstra about the Dutch contribution to the conflict. Next Monday there will be European-level consultations on the situation.
