Poland and three Baltic states announced their intention to quit a treaty banning antipersonnel mines to give their forces a critical defensive edge amid a "fundamental" deterioration in their security due to Russia.

Poland and the three Baltic nations say they want to withdraw from an international convention that bans antipersonnel land mines due to the growing threat from Russia to front-line NATO states

Military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus have significantly increased," the four nations argue in a statemement.