Zakharova explained the withdrawal of the Baltic states from the Ottawa Convention by the interests of NATO

The joint statements of the Baltic States and Poland on withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production and Storage of Anti-personnel Mines are associated with benefits for the North Atlantic Alliance. Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said this at a briefing on April 24, answering a question from Izvestia.

"All this was done, of course, in the interests of NATO," she stressed.

According to her, these states are aimed at developing cooperation with manufacturers of antipersonnel mines from the United States.

"The Baltic states and Poland should become the place of organization of large—scale production of such ammunition, and funds will be allocated through the European Union. <...> Technical assistance in this area will be provided by the United States of America," Zakharova explained.

According to the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is planned to use shells to create minefields on the eastern flank of NATO and to supply Ukraine.

"And instead of taking measures to reduce tension, the Baltic states and Poland continue to pursue a course of confrontation with our country, to escalate tensions on the European continent," she stressed.

Shell reason: The EU continues to arm itself against Russia

Brussels wants to spend €800 billion over four years on the bloc's defense.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics had approved a law on withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention.

On April 16, Andrei Starikov, an economist, political scientist, and editor-in-chief of Baltnews news agency, told Izvestia that Latvia's withdrawal from the convention on the prohibition of antipersonnel mines is a decision that speaks to the country's preparation for war. According to the political scientist, these countries have embarked on a war with Russia. However, withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention is a new step in this policy.