TRUSTA Moves into Practical Action: The Platform’s First Organisational Session Held
On 10 September 2026, the first organisational session of TRUSTA took place, marking the transition from shaping a shared vision to the practical launch of the platform, the definition of its governance model, the roles of participants, and its first strategic priorities.
Today, security can no longer be viewed solely as the responsibility of state or defence institutions. Hybrid threats, foreign interference, disinformation, technological risks, the erosion of public trust, and challenges to the rule of law and democratic institutions require a new quality of cooperation between the state, civil society, business, communities and international partners. It is precisely in this context that TRUSTA is being shaped - as a platform of trust, shared responsibility and practical action in the field of democratic security.
From Ukraine’s Experience to a New Framework for Democratic Security
One of the key issues addressed during the organisational session was the strategic positioning of TRUSTA. The platform’s ambition is not to create yet another coalition or discussion format, but to jointly develop a practical political and institutional framework for democratic security governance that is applicable to Ukraine, the European Union, partner countries and the wider transatlantic space. An important element of this approach is the integration of Ukraine’s experience - the experience of a country that, under the conditions of full-scale war, is simultaneously defending its statehood and democratic institutions, continuing reforms, and advancing towards membership in the European Union.
A separate emphasis was placed on the use of the opportunities and principles of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Open Parliament and OGP Local as internationally recognised formats for policy co-creation, accountability, participation and cooperation between the state and civil society.
Not Declarations on Security, but Instruments and Measurable Results
The next stage in the development of the initiative should be “TRUSTA: Strategic Action Framework” - a shared agenda that translates the vision of democratic security into concrete commitments, mechanisms and results. For TRUSTA, the key transition is:
from declarations on security to instruments, indicators, pilot solutions and measurable results;
from consultations to policy co-creation;
from partnership to shared responsibility and genuine participation in shaping and implementing decisions.
This is why the Strategic Action Framework should become not merely a conceptual document, but a mechanism for implementing concrete initiatives in the field of democratic security governance.
From a Platform to an Effective Infrastructure for Cooperation
During the organisational session, several priority areas for further work were identified:
developing an effective governance structure and participation mechanisms;
ensuring systematic engagement with central executive authorities and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine;
further developing and implementing “TRUSTA: Strategic Action Framework”;
building partnerships with international institutions, platforms, initiatives and organisations;
mobilising resources for the implementation of joint solutions;
developing a communication strategy and international positioning for TRUSTA.
Accordingly, the next stage of work will focus primarily on creating an effective infrastructure for cooperation capable of connecting expertise, public demand, data, international experience and institutional capacities with practical solutions.
Civil Society Is Not an Observer, but a Co-Creator of Security
One of the cross-cutting messages of the session was the new role of civil society. Ukraine’s experience challenges the traditional perception of civil society as an observer of state action or merely a mechanism of public oversight. In wartime, Ukrainian civil society has become part of national resilience: it mobilises resources, creates innovative solutions, supports communities, builds international partnerships, ensures accountability and, at the same time, participates in policymaking.
TRUSTA proposes the next step - to institutionalise this capacity within a new model of democratic security, where the state, civil society, business, communities and international partners do not simply interact, but jointly shape the agenda, develop solutions and assume responsibility for their implementation. For Ukraine, this is an opportunity not only to adapt international models, but also to offer its own experience as a contribution to shaping a new European architecture of democratic security.
Today, Ukraine is not only defending democracy. Ukraine’s experience is already generating practical solutions that can help strengthen democratic security across Europe. TRUSTA is a platform of trust and co-creation. From Ukraine’s experience to solutions for a stronger and safer Europe.
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) brings together more than 70 countries and 150 local governments, representing over two billion people, as well as thousands of civil society organisations. It is a unique global partnership that unites powerful forces to advance transparent, participatory, inclusive and accountable governance. On 22 May 2026, a high-level strategic dialogue was held, during which “TRUSTA - Strategic Action Framework” was presented.
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