Ukraine and Baltic states move to quit anti-personnel mines treaty

Ukraine and several Baltic and Nordic states are withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, citing security threats from Russia.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree initiating the country’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the production and use of anti-personnel mines, according to an announcement on the presidential website on Sunday.

Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. The decree states: "Support the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to withdraw Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of September 18, 1997."

Roman Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's committee on national security, defence and intelligence, said parliamentary approval is still required to finalise the withdrawal.

"This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians," Kostenko wrote on Facebook.

"We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions," he added, stressing that Ukraine’s legislative decision would restore its right to effectively defend its territory.

Meanwhile, Lithuania has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to leave the treaty, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on X on Friday. Under treaty rules, Lithuania will no longer be bound by the convention six months after notification.

Parliaments of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Poland – all NATO and EU members bordering Russia – have approved their countries’ withdrawal from the treaty, citing the increased military danger posed by their neighbour.

Russia has intensified its offensive operations in Ukraine in recent months, leveraging significant superiority in manpower.

Kostenko did not specify when the Ukrainian parliament would debate the withdrawal.

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