Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine will fully align with the European Union’s latest sanctions package against Iran, citing Tehran as “one of the most brutal regimes in the world.” He made the remarks in a video message posted on Monday.

“Our institutions are working on synchronising European and Ukrainian sanctions,” Zelensky said. “We are also fully adopting EU sanctions against the Iranian regime, targeting individuals, companies, and entities involved in military production, terrorism, and internal repression.”

He linked Iran’s growing ties with Russia to broader global security threats, saying, “No surprise that Putin found common ground with it.”

Zelensky also highlighted Ukraine’s decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention — the international treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. He signed a decree formalising the move, which he described as a necessary wartime measure.

“Russia has never been a signatory and cynically uses anti-personnel mines to target civilians and troops alike,” Zelensky said. “This step is political, and it signals to our partners the urgency of prioritising border security against Russian aggression.”

He noted that such mines, while controversial, often remain the only available means of territorial defence during wartime.

Zelensky reiterated that global sanctions must continue to be applied against Moscow, calling them essential to weakening Russia’s military capacity and its ability to sustain its war against Ukraine.

Ukraine’s shift on landmines and its alignment with broader EU sanctions underscores Kyiv’s strategic repositioning amid intensifying regional threats and its deepening integration with Western political and security frameworks.