Ukraine: US to give Ukraine weapons banned by many of its allies – Times of India

WASHINGTON: The Biden administration, breaking with several of its closest allies, said on Friday that it would provide cluster munitions to Ukraine, despite concerns that the weapons could endanger civilians.
Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, told reporters at the White House that he would “leave it to the Pentagon to make a formal announcement” later on Friday afternoon, but said that the administration would continue arming Ukraine as stockpiles of conventional artillery dwindle. He defended the use of the weapons because Ukraine was running out of artillery rounds, and Russia has been using them since the beginning of the war. “Ukraine would not be using these munitions in some foreign land,” Sullivan said. “This is their country they’re defending. These are their citizens they’re protecting and they are motivated to use any weapon system they have in a way that minimizes risks to those citizens.” Sullivan said that providing the munitions would be a “bridge” while production of conventional weapons ramps up in the coming months.
Biden and his advisers had reservations about supplying the weapons, which disperse tiny, deadly bomblets, to Ukrainian forces, particularly because they are especially dangerous to children, who pick up duds only to have them explode. But Ukraine is burning through stockpiles of conventional artillery, and administration officials ultimately decided they had little choice amid fears that Russia would gain the upper hand if soldiers ran out.
Several allies of the United States that have moved to provide Kyiv with tanks, planes and artillery have drawn a line at providing cluster munitions. UK, Germany and France are among over 100 nations that have signed a treaty prohibiting the weapons; the United States, Russia and Ukraine have not. Russia has been using cluster munitions for much of the war, and analysts say that as many as 40 percent of those weapons have resulted in duds, which pose a greater hazard to civilians. The Ukrainians have been using the weapons since early in the war, often in their own territory.
While not criticising or opposing the move, Germany and France said they would not follow suit, citing the treaty. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance did not have a formal position on using cluster munitions in battle. “It is for individual allies to make decisions on the delivery of weapons and military supplies to Ukraine.”. The UN secretary general said he wants countries to stop using cluster munitions.NYT