In euronews with AP, AP • Last update: 08/07/2023 – 2:42 pm
The US defended the decision to supply the controversial cluster bombs to Ukraine.
The US justified the decision to supply controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine. These will not be used near cities and villages.
The Pentagon’s Colin Kahl said the Ukrainian government had given written assurances that cluster bombs would not be used in densely populated urban areas. In addition, sites must be registered to facilitate later demining. The US worked with Ukraine to minimize the risks.
Russia already used UN-banned cluster munitions in the Ukraine war last year. Non-governmental organizations assume that so-called “cluster bombs” are currently being dropped only on Ukraine.
UN wants treaty against cluster munitions respected
UN spokesman Farhan Haq said: “The UN Secretary General is behind the convention against cluster munitions that was passed 15 years ago and wants states to comply.”
International treaty prohibits the use, production and transfer of certain types of cluster munitions. However, neither the US, nor Ukraine, nor Russia have ratified the agreement.
Many small explosive devices
Tens or hundreds of smaller explosive devices (submunitions) are distributed over large areas. Therefore, these bombs are used to attack and destroy infrastructure such as runways.
Many of the smaller explosive devices in cluster munitions do not detonate immediately and continue to pose a hazard years later.
Ukraine and the US hope that cluster munitions will gain territory for the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian armed forces against the aggressor Russia.