Latest news with #Kostenko
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Ukraine on track to withdraw from Ottawa anti-personnel mines treaty, Zelenskiy decree shows, World News
KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday (June 29) he had signed a decree to pull Ukraine out of the Ottawa Convention banning the production and use of anti-personnel mines as a necessary step in view of Russian tactics in their 40-month-old war. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. Other countries bordering Russia, notably Finland, Poland and the three ex-Soviet Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — have either withdrawn from the convention or indicated that they would do so. Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address that Russia had never been a party to the convention "and is using anti-personnel mines with utmost cynicism" along with other weapons, including ballistic missiles. "This is a hallmark of Russian killers. To destroy life by all means at their disposal... We see how our neighbours in Europe react to this threat," he said. "We also know the complexities of the withdrawal procedure when it is conducted during war. We take this political step and give a signal to our political partners on what to focus on. This concerns all countries that border Russia," he said. Anti-personnel mines, Zelenskiy said, are "often the instrument for which nothing can be substituted for defence purposes." Russia has used anti-personnel mines extensively in parts of Ukraine where its forces have been operating. Ukraine sees the clearing of such mines as a key element in post-war recovery. The decree appearing on the president's website calls for support for a Ukrainian foreign ministry proposal to "withdraw Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of Sept 18, 1997." A senior Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said that parliamentary approval was still needed to withdraw from the treaty. "This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians," Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's committee on national security, defence and intelligence, said on his Facebook page. "We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions," he added, saying that the legislative decision must definitively restore Ukraine's right to effectively defend its territory. Russia has intensified its offensive operations in Ukraine in recent months, using significant superiority in manpower. Kostenko did not say when the issue would be debated in parliament. [[nid:719619]]
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Ukraine loses F-16 pilot in largest Russian attack
dpa Kiev A Ukrainian pilot was killed when his F-16 fighter jet was hit while defending against the heaviest Russian air attacks since the war began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday. An air force statement said that the pilot, a lieutenant colonel, did all he could to guide his stricken plane away from residential areas, but failed to eject in time. The pilot, born in 1993, reportedly downed seven targets before being hit. 'Unfortunately, we have suffered another painful loss,' the air force statement said. Zelensky expressed his sympathies to the pilot's relatives. According to the air force report, Russia launched 537 drones, missiles and cruise missiles at Ukrainian territory overnight, causing injuries and severe damage to civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian media said the number was the highest since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. A residential block was hit in Smila, a city in the Cherkasy region to the south-east of Kiev. A child was injured, the local authorities reported. Zelensky repeated demands for greater international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war. Last week, Russia attacked with 114 missiles, more than 1,270 drones and almost 1,100 glide bombs, he said. '[Russian President Vladimir] Putin long ago decided to continue fighting, disregarding the appeals for peace from around the world,' Zelensky posted on Telegram. He also stressed that Ukraine had to boost its air defences and said it was willing to buy US air defence systems. The loss of pilots trained in the West on US F-16 fighter jets is seen as highly significant for Ukraine. Losses from F-16 squadrons have been relatively rare to date. Ukraine moves to withdraw from anti-personnel mines treaty Ukraine is looking at withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel land mines, following the lead of the Baltic states. President Zelensky has signed a decree that puts his war-torn country on track to leave the treaty, Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko announced on Facebook on Sunday. The presidential office in Kiev also published the document later in the day. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania recently notified the United Nations of their intent to leave the treaty. According to Kostenko, Ukraine's decision is a direct response to Russia's widespread use of anti-personnel mines against both military targets and civilians in its full-scale war against Ukraine, now in its fourth year. 'This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded,' said Kostenko, a member of the parliamentary defence committee who is also a military commander. 'We cannot remain bound when the enemy has no boundaries.' Kostenko added that the National Security and Defense Council had approved the decision before Zelensky signed the decree.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Ukraine moves to quit anti-personnel mines treaty
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he has signed a decree to pull Ukraine out of the Ottawa Convention banning the production and use of anti-personnel mines as a necessary step in view of Russian tactics in their 40-month-old war. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. Other countries bordering Russia, notably Finland, Poland and the three ex-Soviet Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - have either withdrawn from the convention or indicated that they would do so. Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address that Russia had never been a party to the convention "and is using anti-personnel mines with utmost cynicism" along with other weapons, including ballistic missiles. "This is a hallmark of Russian killers. To destroy life by all means at their disposal ... We see how our neighbours in Europe react to this threat," he said. "We also know the complexities of the withdrawal procedure when it is conducted during war. We take this political step and give a signal to our political partners on what to focus on. This concerns all countries that border Russia," he said. Anti-personnel mines, Zelenskiy said, are "often the instrument for which nothing can be substituted for defence purposes". Russia has used anti-personnel mines extensively in parts of Ukraine where its forces have been operating. Ukraine regards the clearing of such mines as a key element in post-war recovery. The decree appearing on the president's website calls for support for a Ukrainian foreign ministry proposal to "withdraw Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of September 18, 1997". A senior Ukrainian MP, Roman Kostenko, said that parliamentary approval was still needed to withdraw from the treaty. "This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians," Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's committee on national security, defence and intelligence, said on his Facebook page. "We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions," he added, saying that the legislative decision must definitively restore Ukraine's right to effectively defend its territory. Russia has intensified its offensive operations in Ukraine in recent months, using significant superiority in manpower. Kostenko did not say when the issue would be debated in parliament.
Euractiv
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Ukraine to withdraw from treaty banning anti-personnel mines
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed a decree on the country's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the production and use of anti-personnel mines, the presidential website said on Sunday. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. In a statement, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the decision was motivated by the "unequal and unjust situation that restricts (...) the right to self-defence" of Kyiv, in the face of Russian aggression. Moscow has never ratified the convention, and has instead "extensively used anti-personnel mines as a method of warfare". A senior Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said that parliamentary approval is still needed to withdraw from the treaty. "This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians," Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's committee on national security, defence and intelligence, said on his Facebook page. "We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions," he added, saying that the legislative decision must definitively restore Ukraine's right to effectively defend its territory. Russia has intensified its offensive operations in Ukraine in recent months, using significant superiority in manpower. Kostenko did not say when the issue would be debated in parliament. (adm)
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Zelenskiy signs decree to withdraw Ukraine from anti-landmine treaty
KYIV — Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed a decree on the country's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the production and use of anti-personnel mines, the presidential website said on Sunday. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. "Support the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to withdraw Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of September 18, 1997," the decree, published on Zelenskiy's website, stated. A senior Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said that parliamentary approval is still needed to withdraw from the treaty. "This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians," Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's committee on national security, defense and intelligence, said on his Facebook page. "We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions," he added, saying that the legislative decision must definitively restore Ukraine's right to effectively defend its territory. Russia has intensified its offensive operations in Ukraine in recent months, using significant superiority in manpower. Kostenko did not say when the issue would be debated in parliament. — Reuters
