Krach Institute, Association of People’s Deputies of Ukraine and the Economic Security Council of Ukraine Join Forces to Create a Trusted Tech Caucus in the Rada and Deliver the Tech Diplomacy Academy to Ukrainian Government
Washington, DC, and Kyiv, Ukraine, June 30, 2025 — In a groundbreaking move to counter digital authoritarianism and fortify democracy through technology, the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue today signed a Memorandum of Partnership and Cooperation with the Association of People’s Deputies of Ukraine and the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU).
Signed concurrently in Washington and Kyiv, the agreement marks the beginning of a robust collaboration across multiple initiatives—including the establishment of the Trusted Tech Caucus in Ukraine’s Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) and the integration of Ukrainian leaders into the Krach Institute’s Tech Diplomacy Academy, a first-of-its-kind, scalable online education platform designed to equip leaders at the intersection of technology, security and geopolitics.
“Technology must be a force for freedom, not oppression,” said Janice deGarmo, Chief Operating Officer of the Krach Institute. “By joining forces with the Association of People’s Deputies of Ukraine and the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, were expanding the Krach Insitute’s Global Trusted Tech Network to win the technological battle over authoritarianism.”
Key areas of collaboration include:
- Establishing and supporting the Trusted Tech Caucus in the Verkhovna Rada.
- Providing tech diplomacy training to Ukrainian parliamentarians and ministry officials through the Tech Diplomacy Academy.
- Organizing joint public events, round tables, conferences and expert discussions on issues at the intersection of tech, business, and national security.
“Today, we are establishing the foundation for a strategic partnership that unites political foresight with technological vision. This Memorandum is not merely a formal act, but a manifestation of our shared commitment to building a secure, sovereign, and innovative future for Ukraine,” said Serhiy Taruta, President of the Association of People’s Deputies of Ukraine. “In a global context where advanced technologies increasingly shape geopolitical dynamics, technological diplomacy must serve as a cornerstone of modern statecraft. We also underscore the critical importance of coordinated efforts to prevent aggressor states from accessing emerging technologies that may be exploited for purposes of warfare, coercion, or destabilization. Cutting-edge technologies must serve the cause of peace, not aggression.”
“Restricting aggressor states’ access to advanced technologies is crucial for safeguarding peace and democratic values,” said Dr. Ilona Khmeleva, Secretary of the Economic Security Council of Ukraine. “The parliamentary dimension of tech and cyber diplomacy plays a pivotal role in this effort. Given Ukraine’s unique experience, our collaboration marks a significant step toward building a safer, more secure world.”
This partnership builds on the Krach Institute’s Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals working together to accelerate the innovation, deployment and adoption of trusted technology to ensure technology advances freedom.
About the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue
The Krach Institute is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader in the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.
Visit the Krach Institute online at TechDiplomacy.org and follow on LinkedIn, X and YouTube. Enroll in the Tech Diplomacy Academy to learn what you need to know now about key emerging technologies and their impact on business, policy and the global economy. Subscribe to the Institute’s weekly newsletter Tech Diplomacy Now for the latest news at the intersection of high tech and foreign policy.
About the Association of the People’s Deputies of Ukraine
The Association of the People’s Deputies of Ukraine was founded in 1995. Its activities are carried out in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of People’s Deputies of Ukraine.” The Association has over 400 members. These are people’s deputies from both the current and all previous convocations of parliament. The highest governing body is the Assembly, which meets once a year. The Board of the Association manages its activities between Assemblies. The Board consists of the President, Vice-Presidents, and other Board members. Funding for activities comes from membership fees and grant assistance. The main directions of the Association of People’s Deputies of Ukraine include: helping to draft legislation, conducting educational work in the field of legislation and the history of Ukrainian parliamentarism, engaging the public in the legislative process, post-legislative monitoring, and protecting the rights of people’s deputies.
About the Economic Security Council of Ukraine
The Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU) is an independent institution with a mission to protect security, prosperity, and democratic values and shape strong economic decisions. Since the onset of the full-scale war, the ESCU has established itself as a Kyiv-based leader in economic security, leveraging open-source intelligence (OSINT) to uncover critical vulnerabilities in Russia’s access to foreign technologies. ESCU’s extensive network—government agencies, civil society, private businesses, and media in Ukraine and abroad—amplifies its influence. The ESCU is also working on cyber diplomacy, investment screening, and export control.
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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Megan Stencel at megan@javelindc.com or 703-490-8845.