Pistorius stated that Germany has no plans to withdraw from the conventions on mines.

Germany is not going to withdraw from international agreements related to anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions. This was stated by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

"Each country has to decide for itself. We clearly have no such intention in either case: neither with mines nor with fragmentation munitions," RIA Novosti quoted the minister as saying.

Pistorius also noted that Germany has a "very clear position" on this issue.

Shell reason: The EU continues to arm itself against Russia

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

On April 24, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics approved a law on withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production and Storage of Anti-personnel Mines. It is indicated that, according to Latvia, anti-personnel mines in combination with other weapons systems enhance the defense capability, which cannot be replaced by alternative options.

The Ottawa Convention, signed on December 3, 1997 in the Canadian city of Ottawa, prohibits the use, accumulation, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines, as well as requires their destruction. The document entered into force on March 1, 1999, and was signed by 163 States.