Ukraine has requested to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, which bans anti-personnel landmines, to enhance its defensive capabilities against Russia’s intensified offensive operations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, on June 29, announced the request for Ukraine to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which was signed in 2005. He emphasized that the use of anti-personnel mines is crucial in the current conflict, as Russia has never been a party to the treaty and continues to utilize such weapons with indifference towards civilian casualties.
Anti-personnel mines, capable of detonating with minimal pressure, are highly controversial due to their long-term risks to civilians and their placement in combat scenarios to incapacitate enemy personnel. Despite the complexities involved in exiting the treaty during an ongoing conflict, Zelensky asserts that these explosives are an irreplaceable tool in defending the country.
International observers, including Human Rights Watch, have expressed concerns over Ukraine’s decision, with Mary Wareham stating that it is a symbolic move that could lead to the violation of long-standing prohibitions on the development, production, and use of anti-personnel mines. However, Ukrainian lawmakers such as Roman Kostenko, who has pushed for the withdrawal of the treaty, believe that the move is necessary for Ukraine’s defense and will gain parliamentary approval.
Citing Article 20 of the Ottawa Treaty, Human Rights Watch highlighted the requirement for a six-month period before the withdrawal becomes effective, during which Ukraine cannot exit the treaty if it is still engaged in an armed conflict. Despite these restrictions, Kyiv’s move to withdraw follows similar actions from neighboring countries such as Finland, the Baltic states, and Poland, who have also announced their intentions to withdraw from the treaty.
The decision has drawn attention from military experts who note that anti-personnel mines have been used in combat despite the treaty. These mines have been instrumental in hampering Russian advances, especially in well-protected positions. According to Ruslan Gorbenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker, the withdrawal from the treaty is a logical decision, exempting Ukraine from its international obligations during peacetime and allowing it to officially produce and receive such weapons from non-signatory countries, like the U.S.
Meanwhile, international humanitarian organizations remain concerned about the potential increase in the use of anti-personnel mines, citing the long-term suffering they cause to civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stressed the importance of keeping the rules that protect people during wartime and expressed deep concern over any steps that could lead to the increased usage of such weapons.
Russia, however, has never shown an intention to sign or adhere to the treaty, making the ban on anti-personnel mines during the current conflict highly unlikely. The ongoing conflict has resulted in various humanitarian concerns, prompting international organizations to call for continued commitment to a world without such weapons, despite the challenges and risks associated with their use.