Ukraine on track to withdraw from Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a significant decision by signing a decree for the country to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the production and use of anti-personnel mines. This move, as stated on the presidential website, marks a shift in Ukraine’s stance on the international treaty that it ratified back in 2005.

The decree, published on Zelenskyy’s website, supports the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. However, it is essential to note that parliamentary approval is still required for the formal withdrawal from the treaty, according to senior Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko.

Kostenko emphasized the necessity of this decision in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia, which is not a party to the Convention and has been using mines extensively against Ukrainian military personnel and civilians. He stated on his Facebook page that the reality of war has long demanded this step to be taken to ensure Ukraine’s ability to effectively defend its territory.

The Ukrainian foreign affairs ministry also highlighted Russia’s use of anti-personnel mines as a tactic that has provided an asymmetric advantage to the aggressor. The ministry’s statement, posted on its website, pointed out that the circumstances at the time of Ukraine’s ratification of the Ottawa Convention did not include such aggressive actions from Russia.

In a joint statement earlier in March, the defence ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia recommended withdrawing from the landmine ban due to the escalating threat posed by Russia and Belarus. Russia’s intensified offensive operations in Ukraine, coupled with its significant manpower advantage, have raised concerns among neighboring countries about the need for stronger defensive measures.

It remains to be seen when the issue of Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention will be debated in parliament. However, the decision to reconsider the country’s stance on anti-personnel mines reflects the evolving security landscape in the region and the necessity for Ukraine to adapt to the changing dynamics of modern warfare.