Washington, November 21 (RHC)-- The Washington Post reports U.S. President Joe Biden has quietly approved the provision of new anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine.  Biden had already authorized the transfer of cluster munitions and a different type of anti-personnel mine to Ukraine. 

The latest transfers clearly violate the Mine Ban Treaty known as the Ottawa Convention.  Neither Russia nor the United States is among the 164 parties who’ve agreed to the treaty.

On Tuesday, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines released its annual report, which finds there were more than 5,700 deaths and injuries from landmines worldwide last year — about 1,000 more than in 2022.  

In a statement, the group’s director wrote: “Any use of antipersonnel mines by any actor under any circumstances is unacceptable and must be condemned.  All countries that have not yet done so should join the Mine Ban Treaty to turn back this tide and end the suffering caused by these vile weapons.”

[ SOURCE:  DEMOCRACY NOW ]