UN secretary-general opposes use of landmines during conflict in Ukraine

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed his opposition to the use of landmines in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

He noted that landmines pose a real danger to civilians. Even after the fighting ends, this horrifying and indiscriminate weapon can continue instilling fear in generations of people, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The UN secretary-general also urged world leaders to join the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of landmines. Since its adoption in 1999, 164 countries have signed the treaty.

On November 20, the Pentagon confirmed that the US administration had authorized the use of landmines in Ukraine. On November 21, the US Department of Defense did not rule out the possibility of future landmine shipments to Ukraine. 

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that US President Joe Biden authorised the shipment of landmines to Ukraine, thereby reversing the policy adopted in 2022 that restricted their use outside the Korean Peninsula. Commenting on this information, press secretary for the Russian president Dmitry Peskov reminded that Kyiv is a signatory to the UN Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty.

By Naila Huseynova