But the ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia argue that the security situation along NATO’s eastern flank has “fundamentally deteriorated” since they signed on to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, and that “military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus have significantly increased.”

NATO members Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia said Tuesday they are abandoning the 1997 Ottawa convention treaty outlawing the use of anti-personnel landmines (APL) amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has suggested that his country may withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans anti-personnel mines. If Poland proceeds with the withdrawal, it will become the first EU member state not to be part of the treaty.