Confronted with Russia’s invasion, “Ukraine is compelled to give unconditional priority to the security of its citizens and the defence of the state,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
It said the decision to withdraw was “difficult but necessary” in order to “protect our land from occupation, and our people from horrific Russian atrocities.”.
“This step has been demanded by the reality of war long ago,” a Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said on social media.
“Russia… uses mines against our military and civilians on a massive scale. We cannot remain bound by conditions when the enemy has no restrictions,” he said.
The treaty withdrawal, more than three years into Moscow’s invasion, follows similar decisions by Kyiv’s allies Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all neighbours of Russia.
In March, human rights groups condemned their intention to pull out from the convention.
