President Zelenskyy’s bold decision to withdraw Ukraine from the Mine Ban Treaty raises intense debate on defense needs versus humanitarian cost.
At a Glance
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree to begin the process of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel landmines.
- The decision is a direct response to Russia’s massive and indiscriminate use of landmines during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- Major military powers, including Russia, the U.S., and China, are not signatories to the 1997 treaty.
- Human rights organizations have criticized the decision, warning of the long-term danger to civilians.
A Wartime Withdrawal from the Mine Ban Treaty
In a significant wartime policy shift, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree to initiate Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, the 1997 international treaty that prohibits the use, stockpiling, and production of anti-personnel landmines. The decree, signed on Sunday, June 29, 2025, enacts a decision by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council to leave the treaty.
The move comes as the war with Russia approaches its fourth year and reflects a grim calculation by Kyiv that it can no longer abide by the treaty’s restrictions while its adversary faces none.
A Response to Russian Tactics
Ukrainian officials have been clear that the decision is a direct response to Russia’s military tactics. Russia, which is not a party to the Ottawa Convention, has used landmines on a massive scale throughout the conflict, creating vast minefields that have caused extensive military and civilian casualties.
Ukrainian leaders argue that the treaty places their forces at a significant tactical disadvantage. “Russia uses mines against our military and civilians on a massive scale,” Ukrainian Member of Parliament Roman Kostenko said in a statement reported by Firstpost. “We cannot remain bound by conditions when the enemy has no restrictions.”
A Shifting Regional Security Landscape
Ukraine’s move follows a similar decision by its new NATO ally, Finland. The Finnish government recently announced its own withdrawal from the treaty, citing the same threat from its non-signatory neighbor, Russia. These decisions highlight a trend of nations on Russia’s border reconsidering disarmament commitments in the face of a new, more dangerous security environment.
The Ottawa Convention has been signed by over 160 countries, but its effectiveness has always been limited by the refusal of major powers like the United States, Russia, and China to join.
Humanitarian Concerns
While Ukrainian military leaders see the withdrawal as a strategic necessity, the move has been criticized by human rights organizations. Groups like the International Campaign to Ban Landmines have long argued against the use of these weapons due to their devastating and indiscriminate impact on civilians, which can last for decades after a conflict ends. The decision by Ukraine to potentially rejoin the ranks of nations that use landmines raises fears of increased long-term suffering for its own people.
