Two NATO countries ready to produce anti-personnel mines for Ukraine
Photo: Lithuania and Finland plan to produce mines for Ukraine (Getty Images)
Lithuania and Finland, which announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, plan to resume production of these mines. They are also ready to become suppliers to Ukraine, Reuters reports.
The countries bordering Russia explain this step as necessary to strengthen their own security and support Ukraine.
Lithuania and Finland became the first European countries to effectively announce a return to the production of banned munitions.
In Finland, which has the longest NATO border with Russia, four defense companies - Nammo Lapua, Insta, Raikka, and Forcit Explosives - have already declared their readiness or interest in producing anti-personnel mines.
Production of munitions
"We are going to spend hundreds of millions of euros on anti-tank mines, but also on anti-personnel mines. It will be a significant amount,"
said Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksaa.
According to Aleksaa, Lithuania plans to transfer part of the mines to Ukraine. A similar position was expressed by Finnish Parliament Defense Committee Chair Heikki Autto.
"It is not only right and our duty to support Ukraine, it is also important for Finland's own security," Autto said.
The media outlet notes that five NATO countries planning to leave the Ottawa Treaty have stated they will not create minefields during peacetime but will keep mines for rapid deployment if they sense a threat.
Although they do not yet plan to start production, Poland has stated it could quickly move to serial production of mines if needed.
Some companies in these countries are already working on related projects.
Withdrawal from Ottawa Convention
On June 29, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Ukraine's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention. The National Security and Defense Council and the Cabinet of Ministers were tasked with taking measures to implement this decision.
In addition, the Polish Sejm supported a bill on withdrawal from the convention.
In early May 2025, the Lithuanian parliament did the same - supporting the withdrawal from the treaty on anti-personnel mines.
Furthermore, in mid-June, the Finnish parliament voted to withdraw from the convention.
