That`s how the Deputy Minister commented on the results of the online meeting on the topic of small arms, ammunition and mines, held on May 13 under Ukraine's Chairmanship in the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation.

The Forum reviewed the results of the OSCE's efforts in the area of small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition, as well as efforts to update the relevant regulatory framework of the Organization. The delegations of the OSCE participating States stressed the importance of making progress in this direction, which will enable strengthening national measures to combat the illicit trafficking of these weapons.

OSCE participating States also shared their experience in implementing Organisation’s projects in the field of small arms, light weapons, conventional ammunition and mine action.

The event focused on the mine threat in the area of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, unleashed by Russia, and the efforts of international governmental and non-governmental organizations to overcome it. Ukraine's partners, citing the reports of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, condemned Russia's ongoing arms and military supplies to its armed formations, which continue temporary occupation of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. The belief was expressed that the situation could not improve until Russia stopped its targeted destabilizing actions and began to implement its obligations under the Minsk agreements.

Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for European Integration Anatoliy Petrenko outlined the main elements of Ukraine's national policy in the field of mine action, in particular in the context of the ongoing aggression by the Russian Federation. He stressed the threat of contamination of the territories of Ukraine, temporarily occupied by Russian-backed militants, with anti-personnel mines and explosives.

The representative of Ukraine informed about the measures taken by the Ukrainian side to clear the territories of Ukraine, that were liberated from the temporary occupation, from these means of war, which pose a serious danger to the civilian population.