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.

NATO members Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia plan to withdraw from the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel landmines due to the military threat from their neighbour Russia, the four countries said on Tuesday.

In a joint statement issued today, the defence ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia say they “unanimously recommend withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention,” which took effect in 1999.