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

Poland and the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are withdrawing from the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel mines, the four countries, which all share a border with Russia, said in a joint statement on Tuesday.