Ukrainian envoy cites Russian threat as key factor in leaving Ottawa treaty

Ukraine’s decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines was driven by security challenges posed by Russian aggression, Ukraine’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Yuriy Husyev, said in a recent article.

Husyev said Ukraine’s move was not unique, noting that countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and Poland have also taken political and legislative steps to withdraw from or reconsider their commitments to the Convention in response to the perceived threat from Russia, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

“These states, even without being at war, have recognised the real threat posed by the Russian Federation and the need to ensure greater flexibility in matters of defence,” he wrote.

He pointed out that Russia is not a party to the Ottawa Convention and therefore faces no restrictions under the treaty, unlike Ukraine, which had complied with its provisions since ratifying the agreement in 2005. This, he said, created an unfair situation where the aggressor operated without limitations while Ukraine was constrained by international obligations — even in matters of self-defence.

The ambassador stressed that Ukraine’s continued membership in the Convention endangered millions of lives by restricting the country’s defence capabilities amid ongoing conflict.

On June 29, 2025, Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting the National Security and Defence Council’s decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention.

The Ottawa Convention, formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, was adopted in 1997 and came into force in 1999. It seeks to eliminate anti-personnel landmines worldwide due to their long-lasting humanitarian impact, particularly on civilians after conflicts end.

By Sabina Mammadli