US Edition
Cluster bomb supply by the US is ‘fair’, says Ukraine
A number of allies criticised the decision to send the controversial weapons to assist Kyiv in its fight against Russia
Ukraine says it’s only fair that it receives cluster bombs from Washington after a number of allies criticised the decision this week.
The UK, Spain and Canada, as signatories to a convention banning the use of cluster munitions, have all voiced criticism over the move announced on Friday.
The Biden administration said it would be sending thousands of the bombs to assist Kyiv in its war against Russia, with Joe Biden telling CNN it was necessary to support Ukraine’s dwindling ammunition stocks.
The bombs are controversial because of the indiscriminate fall of their bomblets and high rate of failure. They can stay in the ground for years but remain live, posing a danger to civilians.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky, said it was “at least fair” that Kyiv should be able to use cluster munitions given that Moscow “has been using this type of ammunition in Ukraine for over a year”.
He said it was “extremely important for Ukraine” to receive these weapons. “They somewhat compensate for our shell deficit and partially restore parity on the battlefield.
Mr Podolyak added: “And actually Russia should be talked to only in a language it understands - commensurate force…”
As non-signatories to the 2008 convention on cluster munitions, which bans their production and use, both Moscow and Kyiv have used cluster bombs during the war. The US is also not a signatory.
On Sunday Rachel Reeves, the Labour shadow chancellor, said that the US decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine caused her “deep concern”.
Ms Reeves told Sophie Ridge on Sky News: “While I support President Biden’s desire to ensure Ukraine is fully armed to fight Russia, I am not convinced these are the appropriate weapons.”
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, said on Saturday the UK is a “signatory to a convention which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use”.
There was also opposition over the weekend from Mr Biden’s own party.
Senator Tim Kaine said he had “some real qualms” about their use, while Representative Barbara Lee urged the government to reconsider the move.
Cluster bombs were first used in the Second World War and at least 15 countries have used them since then, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Israel, Morocco, the Netherlands, Britain, Russia and the US.
Among the countries worst affected by them are Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Cambodia, whose countryside was carpet bombed by the US in the 1970s to destroy suspected Viet Cong bases and remains dangerous.
On Sunday Hun Sen, the Cambodian leader, urged Kyiv against their use, saying its citizens would be “the real victims”.
“It would be the greatest danger for Ukrainians for many years or up to a hundred years if cluster bombs are used in Russian-occupied areas in the territory of Ukraine.”