It is a heavy decision that Volodymyr Zelensky made. “I decide to bring into force the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of June 29, 2025 on the withdrawal of Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of Employment, Storage, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction of September 18, 1997”, can be read in a decree published on Sunday by the Presidency.
However, there are several stages before an effective withdrawal: that the Ukrainian parliament, the rada, votes in favor of such a decision, and that kyiv notifies the UN.
What is this “Ottawa” convention for?
The 1997 Ottawa Convention, signed by more than 160 countries, prohibits employment, storage, production and transfer of anti -personnel mines designed to be buried or hidden in the soil.
Trunk in contact or near a person, these anti -personnel mines can kill or cause serious injuries. These devices often remain active after a conflict, thus preventing the return of populations.
Ukraine had ratified this treaty in 2005, but not Russia, which invaded its territory from February 2022.
A measure deemed necessary against Russia
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described in a press release the measure of “difficult” but “necessary and proportionate” with regard to “the absolute priority which is to defend our state against the brutal aggression of Russia”.
War in Ukraine
Roman Kostenko, a Ukrainian deputy who sits on the parliamentary commission on national security, for his part, congratulated the decision taken by Volodymyr Zelensky.
“This is a measure that the reality of war has long demanded,” he said on Facebook. “Russia is not a signatory to this convention and massively use mines against our soldiers and civilians. We cannot remain held by obligations [alors que] The enemy has no restrictions, “he added.
