U.S. sends anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, violating treaty
- The U.S. decision to send anti-personnel mines to Ukraine contradicts international anti-mine treaties.
- Ukraine's officials expressed the critical need for these mines in their fight against Russia.
- This action has prompted protests and concerns among treaty signatories regarding its long-term impact.
In a controversial decision, the United States announced it would be transferring anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, a decision that has sparked backlash from the international community, particularly among signatories of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. This treaty, designed to eradicate the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of landmines, aims to promote humanitarian disarmament. Ukraine itself is a signatory to this treaty, which complicates its position as President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed the need for these mines to help repel the ongoing Russian invasion. At a recent conference in Cambodia, representatives from various countries gathered to discuss the treaty's progress, where landmine victims protested against the U.S. decision. The treaty’s advocates feel this action threatens the integrity of two and a half decades of collective effort aimed at minimizing the humanitarian impact of landmines.