U.S. confirms it will transfer cluster munitions to Ukraine

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has confirmed that Washington will send cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Sullivan called the decision “difficult,” and said U.S. authorities hesitated to send Ukraine cluster munitions because of the threat such weapons pose to civilian populations. He added that the Biden administration would supply cluster munitions on a temporary basis, at least until it is possible to resupply other kinds of munitions.

The National Security Adviser also said that Kyiv had provided Washington with written guarantees to use the weapons with caution.

The decision has received harsh criticism from human rights advocates. Cluster munitions, which scatter “bomblets” over wide areas, can fail to explode on impact and pose ongoing dangers to civilian populations. Over 100 countries have outlawed the use of cluster munitions. Both Russia and Ukraine have reportedly used cluster munitions during this war.