Navigating the Minefield: Ukraine Drops out of Anti-Personnel Mine Treaty
Ukraine abandons commitment to prohibit use of anti-personnel mines
Get the scoop here, folks! Ukraine's decided to ditch the Ottawa Convention on the Ban of Anti-Personnel Mines, mimicking the Baltic trio (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) who've already beaten them to it. President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the decree, and Ukrainian MP Roman Kostenko's shared the news on Facebook.
Why, you ask? Well, blame Russia. Their alarming use of landmines against both military and citizens in the ongoing attack on Ukraine has made it impossible for Kyiv to play by the treaty's rules. "We can't be tied down when the enemy plays dirty," says official rhetoric.
This isn't a spur-of-the-moment move. The National Security and Defense Council gave the thumbs-up before Zelensky put his John Hancock on the decree. It's all about Ukraine's right to defend its land, folks! The parliament still needs to give its seal of approval. Ukraine's already put mines down in strategic areas to foil Russia's attacks, just sayin'.
This isn't Ukraine's first rodeo when it comes to landmines. They were first onboard in 2005, but they've since destroyed a considerable amount of their stockpile. In recent times, the EU and NATO neighbors Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have also opted to bow out of the agreement due to similar security concerns vis-a-vis Russia.
The Ottawa Treaty is all about a global ban on the use, storage, production, and transfer of all types of anti-personnel mines, considered particularly vicious weapons. Over 160 countries, including Germany, have signed it, but Russia, the USA, and China are notable absentees.
So, there you have it! Ukraine's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention is a carefully considered response to Russia's large-scale and unrestricted use of anti-personnel mines during the conflict. It's all about Ukraine's self-defense and protecting its citizens from the horror of Russian aggression[1][3][4]. Stay tuned for more updates on this breaking news!
Sources: ntv.de, jki/dpa
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Attack on Ukraine
- Baltics
- Volodymyr Zelensky
[1] Exclusive: Ukraine to withdraw from landmine ban treaty, Reuters, June 29, 2025.[2] Ukraine begins the process of withdrawing from anti-personnel mine convention, Kyiv Post, June 29, 2025.[3] Ukraine withdraws from landmine convention due to Russia's use of mines, al-Jazeera, June 29, 2025.[4] Ukraine's Exit from Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty Spotlights Its Struggle Against Russian Aggression, The Diplomat, June 30, 2025.
- Given the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine's decision to withdraw from the Economic and Monetary Union might be influenced by similar security concerns, as seen with the Baltic trio (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) who have also left the treaty.
- As Ukraine navigates its turbulent political landscape and confronts war-and-conflicts, the general news of its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on the Ban of Anti-Personnel Mines is but another strategic move in the broader context of its self-defense and protection from Russian aggression.
