US sends cluster bombs to Ukraine despite civilian threat
The US said it will send cluster bombs to Ukraine as part of a new push to support the country’s counteroffensive and boost its dwindling stocks of ammunition, overruling concerns that the weapons often fail to explode and pose a grave danger to civilians. President Joe Biden called the move a “difficult decision" given the risk posed by cluster bombs, but said Russia has been raining the munitions on Ukraine for months.
US officials said Kyiv’s forces have been firing artillery at a rate that exceeds production and the US needs to make sure supplies don’t run out before output ramps up later this year. “We’re in a situation where Ukraine continues to be brutally attacked across the board by munitions, by these cluster munitions," Biden told CNN, adding that Ukraine was running low.
“It took me a while to be convinced to do it." Ukraine argues that the cluster munitions will help target dug-in Russian positions. It comes about a month into the counteroffensive, which so far hasn’t delivered major breakthroughs.
US officials said Ukraine is committed to demining efforts after the conflict ends and won’t use the bombs in civilian areas. The decision on cluster bombs is only the latest example of the Biden administration agreeing to provide weapons to Ukraine that it once deemed off-limits for fear of escalating the conflict or provoking a response from Russian President Vladimir Putin outside Ukraine’s borders.
The Pentagon announced details of the delivery later Friday, saying the munitions were part of a $800 million package drawing on existing US stocks. NATO Allies Agree on New Pledge to Spend at Least 2% of GDP The plan may cause strain with NATO allies that are among the more than 100 signatories to the Convention
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