What's next for Ukraine regarding Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention?

The Russian advance toward Kharkiv (and potentially Sumy or Kyiv) changes Ukraine's stance on the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.

Russia, like the USA or China, hasn't signed or ratified the treaty.

Is Ukraine the best protected now? Particularly along the Ukrainian-Russian border?

Since the large-scale invasion, Russia has deployed at least seven types of anti-personnel mines in Ukraine. It's unprecedented for a non-signatory to use such weapons in a signatory's territory.

Ukraine needs to discuss seriously, both within the National Security and Defense Council with the president's involvement and with our partners, the possibility of withdrawing from the Convention.

According to Article 20 of the Convention, each state party has the right to withdraw, notifying other parties and the United Nations Security Council, with a full explanation of reasons. Even though the withdrawal only takes effect after the armed conflict ends, we need to consider the future.

The only alternative is to supply Ukraine massively with means to replace anti-personnel mines for defense, especially along the borders.

We must now view everything differently than in peacetime – the war is about the survival of our country and our people!

Source

About the author. Valeriy Chaly, Ukrainian diplomat, former Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA.

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.