Western Leaders Oppose US Decision to Send Cluster Bombs to Ukraine

Many Western leaders voiced opposition against the United States’ decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine as Kyiv welcomed the munitions, saying it would help to liberate Ukrainian territory but promised the munitions would not be used in Russia.

US Supplies Ukraine with Widely Banned Cluster Munitions

The U.S. announced on Friday it would supply Ukraine with widely banned cluster munitions for its counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Supports the Use of Munitions

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said the munitions would help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, adding Ukraine would keep a strict record of their use and exchange information with its partners.

“Our position is simple – we need to liberate our temporarily occupied territories and save the lives of our people,” Reznikov wrote on Twitter.

Cluster Munitions and International Prohibitions

“Ukraine will use these munitions only for the de-occupation of our internationally recognized territories. These munitions will not be used on the officially recognized territory of Russia.”

Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. They typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Those that fail to explode pose a danger for decades.

Russia Criticizes US Decision

Moscow again criticized the U.S. decision on Saturday, describing it as another “egregious” example of Washington’s “anti-Russian” course.

US National Security Adviser Defends Decision

Jake Sullivan, U.S. President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, sought on Friday to make the case for providing the arms to Ukraine to reclaim territory seized since Russia invaded in February 2022.

“We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance,” Sullivan told reporters. “But there is also a massive risk of civilian harm if Russian troops and tanks roll over Ukrainian positions and take more Ukrainian territory and subjugate more Ukrainian civilians because Ukraine does not have enough artillery,” he said.

Reznikov said the military would not use cluster munitions in urban areas and would use them only “to break through the enemy defense lines.”

International Opposition to Cluster Munitions

Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of the weapons.

Canada is against the use of cluster munitions that Washington has promised to give Ukraine for its counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces, Ottawa said on Saturday, reiterating a commitment to the Oslo agreement that bans the controversial weapon.

“We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to putting an end to the effects cluster munitions have on civilians – particularly children,” the Canadian government said in a statement.

Another U.S. ally, Germany, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have expressed their opposition to the U.S. sending cluster munitions to Ukraine.

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meanwhile, has made clear Britain “discourages” the use of cluster munitions. The prime minister on Saturday highlighted that the U.K. was one of 123 signatories of a convention banning their use.

“We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion,” he told reporters on Saturday.

Spain also voiced criticism against the decision. Cluster bombs should not be sent to help Ukraine, the Spanish defense minister said on Saturday.

“Spain, based on the firm commitment it has with Ukraine, also has a firm commitment that certain weapons and bombs cannot be delivered under any circumstances,” Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles told reporters at a Madrid rally on Saturday.