Kyiv: In a significant shift reflecting the intensifying realities of war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree initiating the country’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits the use, development, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. The announcement was made public on the presidential website this Sunday.
Ukraine became a signatory of the Ottawa Convention formally known as the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty in 1999 and ratified it in 2005. The treaty was crafted with the aim of eliminating the use of landmines that have claimed countless civilian lives worldwide, particularly in post-conflict regions.
The presidential decree, referencing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' recommendation, formally supports the move to exit the treaty. "Approve the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to terminate Ukraine’s participation in the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, dated September 18, 1997," the document reads.
However, the decree alone does not finalize Ukraine’s exit. Parliamentary ratification is still required before the decision becomes official.
Roman Kostenko, a prominent lawmaker and the secretary of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, welcomed the move, stating that Ukraine’s withdrawal from the treaty has become a strategic necessity in the face of evolving threats. He emphasized that Russia’s aggressive tactics including extensive deployment of landmines have placed Ukraine at a disadvantage on the battlefield.
"This decision reflects the harsh demands of our current reality," Kostenko wrote on social media. "Russia, not being bound by the Convention, continues to lay mines indiscriminately against both our military and civilian population."
Kostenko stressed the importance of removing restrictions that hinder Ukraine’s ability to defend itself effectively. “Remaining committed to a treaty that the enemy ignores only undermines our defensive capabilities. The law must now confirm Ukraine’s right to defend its people and territory by all necessary means,” he added.
The move comes as Russia steps up its offensive operations, leveraging its larger forces and territorial gains. Ukraine, under increasing pressure on multiple fronts, is re-evaluating its military strategy and international commitments in the interest of national survival.
While Kostenko did not specify when the matter would be placed on the parliamentary agenda, political analysts expect the issue to garner substantial support, given the growing calls for policy realignment in light of the ongoing war.
Should Ukraine finalize its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, it would join a small group of countries including Russia, the United States, and China that have refused to be bound by the treaty’s restrictions. The decision is likely to draw criticism from humanitarian organizations but may find understanding among Ukraine’s allies who have witnessed the brutal toll of the war.
As Kyiv reshapes its military doctrine under the shadow of continued Russian aggression, this potential treaty exit marks a decisive, though controversial, pivot one aimed at ensuring