President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the country's exit from the Ottawa Convention is a signal to partners about the threat posed by anti-personnel mines. Zelensky emphasized that this step is a necessary measure for defense under current conditions. In his evening address on June 29, he signed a relevant decree that implements the decision of the National Security and Defense Council regarding the country's exit from this convention.
'Russia has never been a participant in this convention and extremely cynically uses anti-personnel mines. Moreover, not only now, in the war against Ukraine. This is the trademark of Russian killers - to destroy lives by all possible means,' Zelensky emphasized.
Based on this decision, Ukraine sends a signal to partners about what needs to be addressed in the face of threats from the Russian Federation and other states. It also means that anti-personnel mines remain an important tool for defense that should be taken into account.