Zelenskyy signs decree to withdraw Ukraine from Ottawa Convention

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree enacting a decision by the National Security and Defense Council to withdraw Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.

The move was confirmed by Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security. “This is a step long demanded by the reality of war,” Kostenko said. “Russia is not a party to this convention and is using landmines extensively against both our soldiers and civilians. We cannot remain bound by restrictions when our enemy faces none.”

The full text of the presidential decree has not yet been published on the official website.

Ukraine’s withdrawal follows similar announcements earlier this week by Lithuania and Estonia, which formally notified the United Nations of their decision to exit the treaty. Under the terms of the Ottawa Convention, the withdrawals will become effective six months after the UN notification.

Other neighboring countries — Latvia, Poland, and Finland — have also announced their intentions to leave the convention. All of these nations share borders with Russia, which has never joined the treaty.

These countries have cited growing security concerns and Russia’s continued aggression as justification for abandoning the ban. They argue that Moscow’s refusal to recognize international law or the territorial integrity of sovereign states leaves them with no choice but to enhance their own military readiness — including the use of anti-personnel mines.