One of the major international security implications arising from the conflict in Ukraine is how to manage the long-term threat posed by the huge numbers of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) that are being distributed to the military and civilian population to confront the Russian threat. 

In this article, Paul James explores the parallel between the situation in Ukraine and the post conflict situation in the Western Balkans following the conflict in the 1990's. Paul also explores what the international community can do not to prevent the same firearms proliferation, which has fuelled armed crime and terrorism in Europe for the last 20 years.