In response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday voted to abandon a treaty that prohibits anti-personnel mines. The Baltic Nato member wants to strengthen its security. Since Moscow’s soldiers invaded Ukraine in 2022, the EU member and additional nations in the area have increased defense spending and education, raising concerns that Russia might take advantage of them when they invade future. The @LRSeimas ( parliament ) approved Lithuania’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention today. The defense ministry stated on X that the removal would take effect in six months. Later, Lithuanian defense secretary Dovile Sakaliene stated on Instagram that:” We are preparing for the manufacturing and acquisition of mine.” We are taking every possible and impossible estimate to hinder and, if necessary, protect our citizens in Ukraine, and Russia is using anything to do so, she continued. The United States and Russia are no parties to the Ottawa Convention, which includes more than 160 nations and territories. Anti-personnel mines that are intended to be buried or hidden on the ground are prohibited by the treaty’s participants from acquiring, producing, collecting, or using them. Support organizations deplore their long-term effects on civilians, and they frequently mutilate victims who are not instantly killed. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the three European nations, and Poland, made their intentions to abandon the agreement in March. It is crucial to review all measures to improve our punishment and defense capabilities in light of this unstable safety environment, which is characterized by Russia’s anger and its ongoing risk to the Euro-Atlantic group, according to the statement. With this decision, we are essentially saying that our nations are determined and you use every possible means to protect our territory and freedom. Finland also announced its intention to leave the convention in April. The majority of the vote was cast in Lithuania’s congress, which included 107 votes for, nothing against, and three abstentions.
