Opposing Views: Western Leaders Reject Cluster Bombs as Ukraine Welcomes Them

Many Western leaders expressed their opposition to the US decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine, as Kiev welcomed these munitions, saying that they would help liberate Ukrainian lands, but promised not to use the munitions in Russia.

The United States announced on Friday that it would supply Ukraine with widely banned cluster munitions for its counter-offensive against occupying Russian forces.

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

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

“Ukraine will use these munitions only to end the occupation of our internationally recognized territories. These munitions will not be used in the territories officially recognized by Russia.”

Cluster munitions are banned by more than 100 countries. They usually release large numbers of small bombs that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Those that do not explode pose a danger for decades.

Moscow again criticized the US decision on Saturday, calling it another “terrible” example of Washington’s “anti-Russian” course.

“Another wonder weapon, which Washington and Kiev rely on without considering its serious consequences, will not in any way affect the course of the special military operation, the goals and objectives of which will be fully achieved,” said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry. he said in a statement.

Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, on Friday sought to make the case for providing arms to Ukraine to reclaim territory captured since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

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

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

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.

Ottawa said on Saturday that Canada opposes the use of cluster munitions that Washington promised to give Ukraine for its counterattack against occupying Russian forces, reaffirming its commitment to the Oslo Accords banning the controversial weapon.

“We do not endorse the use of cluster munitions and we are committed to ending the effects of cluster munitions on civilians – especially children,” the Canadian government said in a statement.

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

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made it clear that Britain “discourages” the use of cluster munitions. The Prime Minister confirmed on Saturday that the UK was one of 123 signatories to an agreement banning its 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 criticized the decision. Spain’s defense minister said on Saturday that cluster bombs should not be sent to help Ukraine.

“Spain, based on its firm commitment with Ukraine, also has a strong commitment not to hand over certain weapons and bombs under any circumstances,” Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles told reporters at a rally in Madrid on Saturday.