The four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have left the country heavily contaminated with antipersonnel landmines, causing hundreds of civilian casualties and posing long-term risks to local communities. Russia’s extensive use of these mines is widely recognized as unlawful, while Ukraine, despite being a state party to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, has also used landmines, though the scale remains unclear. The ongoing threat underscores the vital role of the Mine Ban Treaty in protecting civilians and upholding international law.
On December 1, states parties to the Mine Ban Treaty will meet in Geneva for their annual session to address these dangers and broader challenges to the treaty. In July, Ukraine informed the UN that it was suspending its obligations under the treaty, citing existential security threats from Russia. This suspension, however, is unlawful under international law and increases the risk of civilian harm, adding to the concerns raised by five states—Baltic nations, Finland, and Poland—that withdrew from the treaty earlier in 2025. Such actions threaten the global norm against landmine use and erode the authority of international law.
The Mine Ban Treaty explicitly prohibits use and other activities related to landmines under any circumstances, including wartime, making Ukraine’s claimed suspension under Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties invalid. Several states, including Austria, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, and France, have already voiced objections, noting that suspensions or withdrawals during armed conflict violate international law and undermine arms control efforts.
Opposing Ukraine’s suspension is critical to preserving the integrity of international law. Allowing such actions sets dangerous precedents: it could encourage other states to avoid obligations under multilateral treaties, weaken the protective function of human rights and humanitarian law, erode the stigma against prohibited weapons, and discourage investment in international agreements. It could also lead to retaliatory suspensions by other states and create ambiguity over lawful use of treaty suspension mechanisms.
States parties should unequivocally condemn Russia’s unlawful use of landmines while also challenging Ukraine’s suspension. Upholding treaty commitments ensures that international law remains a reliable framework for conduct, maintains trust among states, and reinforces protections for civilians during armed conflict. The upcoming Mine Ban Treaty meeting is a crucial opportunity for the 165 states parties to publicly reaffirm that suspensions are not permitted and to strengthen the credibility and enforceability of international law.
