UN chief slams landmine threat after US decision to supply Ukraine
The UN Secretary-General on Monday slammed the "renewed threat" of anti-personnel landmines, days after the United States said it would supply the weapons to Ukrainian forces battling Russia's invasion.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced strong concerns over the "renewed threat" of anti-personnel landmines, following the recent U.S. decision to supply these weapons to Ukraine for its defense against Russia’s invasion.
Speaking through UN Under-Secretary General Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana at a conference in Cambodia reviewing the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, Guterres praised global efforts to clear and destroy landmines. However, he warned of ongoing challenges, including some signatories’ renewed use of landmines and failure to meet disarmament commitments.
The UN chief urged the treaty's 164 signatories, including Ukraine but excluding the U.S. and Russia, to uphold their obligations and fully comply with the treaty. It remains unclear whether Guterres' remarks specifically targeted Ukraine. Neither Ukraine’s representatives at the conference nor UN officials responded to inquiries regarding the U.S. landmine supply.
Human rights advocates quickly condemned the U.S. announcement to send anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) calling it a decision that could have devastating long-term consequences for civilians.
Tamar Gabelnick, director of the ICBL, criticized the move, warning that transferring mines to Ukraine would create a “deadly legacy” for future generations. She urged the U.S. to reconsider its plans and called on Ukraine to honor its international obligations by refusing the weapons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defended the decision, describing the mines as vital for countering Russian advances. The outgoing U.S. administration justified the move as a measure to bolster Ukraine’s position ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The conference in Cambodia holds special significance, as the country remains heavily affected by landmines from decades of war. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet highlighted the ongoing danger, noting over 1,600 square kilometers of contaminated land still threaten over one million people. Since 1979, landmines and unexploded ordnance have killed approximately 20,000 people in Cambodia and injured twice as many.
Globally, the ICBL reported 5,757 casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war in the past year, with 84% of victims being civilians. The organization continues to advocate for stronger international action to eliminate landmines and their devastating humanitarian impact.