The United States and Ukraine carry out large-scale cybersecurity cooperation

On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to promote the U.S.-Uruguayan government to further strengthen cybersecurity cooperation.

News in 2017 Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, suffered massive power outages due to complex cyber attacks. Only three months later, US congressman representative Brendan Boyle (PA) facilitated the first introduction in April 2017 of Cyber Security Ukraine 2008 Collaboration Act. ” Internet security experts later attributed the attack to Russian hackers.

Image: csoonline

Co-founder of the bill is Rep.Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania). The bill won 404 votes in the House of Representatives.

The bill will push for further U.S.-Ukraine co-operation because of important digital defensive priorities, including the U.S. commitment to support the government of Ukraine when needed. This law empowers the State Council to initiate and organize cooperation between the two parties, including regularly reporting to Congress on the effectiveness of the cooperation.

Although the United States and Ukraine have already cooperated in a number of diplomatic missions, the Ukrainian Network Security Collaborative Act explicitly requires the United States to assist in providing advanced security to government computers in Kiev, particularly those that protect key Ukrainian infrastructure; to Ukraine Support and reduce dependence on Russian technology; help Ukraine expand its ability to share cybersecurity information and collaborate in an international response.

Boyle, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, advocates closer ties with Ukraine, saying the bill represents “further fighting Russia’s growing cyberattack.” Russia has been using Ukraine as a target of cyber attacks for the past few years, This jeopardizes the national security of our ally Ukraine and endangers the security of its neighboring countries and the United States, “Boyle said. “The HR 1997 Act is a signal to Russia and to all those who threaten the security of the United States and its allies that we are prepared and capable of protecting ourselves in the midst of escalating threats … The timing is crucial because the United States and Ukraine’s election is coming. ”

The legislation is now submitted to the Senate for voting. Currently, the Senate has yet to receive a similar bill.

Boyle’s bill is important in many ways, including the fact that Ukraine is not yet a NATO member. Because the allies of NATO member states are protected by the legal framework, if Ukraine is a member state and is attacked, the United States should provide assistance in accordance with the time and manner stipulated in Article V of the Covenant. Although NATO did not accept Ukraine’s application, Boyle’s proposal provided another way for the U.S. government to voice its support for Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

Source: usukraine