US accused of violating humanitarian law over supplying anti-personnel mines to Kiev

TheUSA is violating international humanitarian law by supplying Ukraine with anti-personnel mines. The website of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) said this on 4 December.

Representatives of the organization specified that anti-personnel mines were banned 25 years ago because of their indiscriminate nature and the devastating damage they cause to humans.

"The Mine Ban Treaty is now an integral part of international humanitarian law, which must - logically and legally - be applied both in times of conflict and in times of peace. By providing Ukraine with banned mines, the US is encouraging Ukraine's violation of its legal obligations and undermining the basic principles of international humanitarian law," the ICBL said.

The International Campaign to Ban Anti-Personnel Mines called on the US authorities to immediately stop these supplies. In addition, the organization appealed to Kiev to refuse "deadly gifts".

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Earlier, on December 2, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reported that the USA was preparing to transfer a $725m military aid package to Ukraine. According to the newspaper, the military aid package will include anti-drone systems and anti-personnel mines.

Prior to that, on November 24, The Washington Post (WP) reported that incumbent US President Joe Biden had approved the delivery of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine in order to "deter the advance of Russian troops". WP recalled that he renewed a ban on the use of such mines in 2022, effectively reversing the decision of his predecessor Donald Trump.

The Ottawa Treaty, or Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, signed on December 3, 1997, provides for a ban on the use, stockpiling, and production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. More than 160 states are parties to the treaty, and Ukraine ratified it in 2005.

Western countries have increased their military and financial support for Ukraine against the background of the Russian special operation to protect Donbas, which began on February 24, 2022. The decision to hold it was made by the Russian president because of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to the increased shelling by Ukrainian troops.