Prime minister rules out following controversial US move but says he will urge allies to increase other aid
Luke Harding in Kyiv and Michael Savage
On Friday, Joe Biden defended what he said was a “difficult decision” to send widely banned cluster munitions to Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government. Human rights groups criticised the White House and there was unease among some Democrats, with one calling it “unnecessary and a terrible mistake”.
On Saturday, the prime minister pointed out the UK was a signatory to an international convention that discourages the use and production of cluster munitions – unlike the US, Russia and Ukraine.
Sunak said: “We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion. But we’ve done that by providing heavy battle tanks and, most recently, long-range weapons.
“Russia’s act of barbarism is causing untold suffering to millions of people.”
Sunak said he was travelling this week to the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and would discuss with allies how to “strengthen our support for Ukraine”. It is unclear if Zelenskiy will attend in person. He has been pressing for immediate Nato membership for Ukraine, something Biden has so far ruled out.
The US and other countries including Germany are fearful that admitting Ukraine into Nato now – 16 months after Vladimir Putin’s invasion – will escalate tensions with Moscow. Nato members are instead likely to offer Kyiv a number of “security guarantees” as a sign of their long-term commitment.
Zelenskiy has welcomed the US provision of cluster munitions, which are part of a new $800m (£625m) security package. It comes amid western concerns that Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive is making slow progress. Commanders say their dug-in Russian opponents have superiority in artillery and heavy tanks, limiting the ability of their troops to advance.
Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. They typically scatter numerous smaller bomblets over a wide area, sometimes as big as a football pitch, and can kill indiscriminately. Those that fail to explode threaten civilians, especially children, for decades after a conflict ends.
Reznikov said he had given Washington written and “personal” guarantees. He promised his armed forces would not use cluster weapons inside Russia, and would avoid bombing urban areas where Ukrainian civilians could be killed or injured. “These are our people,” he said in a tweet.
He explained: “Cluster munitions will be used only in the fields where there is a concentration of Russian military. They will be used to break through the enemy defence lines with minimum risk for the lives of our soldiers.”
Kyiv would also keep a record of where it had fired cluster shells, known in Ukraine as “cassette bombs”. Based on these records, it would seek to de-mine affected areas as a priority once Ukraine had defeated Russia, Reznikov wrote.
Speaking on Friday, Biden said he had made the move because the Ukrainians were running out of ammunition.
In an interview with CNN, the US president said: “This is a war relating to munitions. And they’re running out of that ammunition, and we’re low on it and so, what I finally did, I took the recommendation of the defense department to – not permanently – but to allow for this transition period, while we get more 155 weapons, these shells, for the Ukrainians.”
End justifies means for Biden in sending cluster bombs to Ukraine
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, told reporters at the White House: “We recognise that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance. This is why we deferred the decision for as long as we could. But there is also a massive risk of civilian harm if Russian troops and tanks roll over Ukrainian positions and take more Ukrainian territory and subjugate more Ukrainian civilians because Ukraine does not have enough artillery.
“That is intolerable to us. Ukraine would not be using these munitions in some foreign land. 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 minimises risks to those citizens.”
01:19 US decision to send cluster munitions ‘unanimous’, says US national security advisor – video IT WAS NOT!!!
Zelenskiy described the aid package as “timely, broad and much-needed defense”, in a tweet thanking Biden for “decisive steps that bring Ukraine closer to victory over the enemy”.
“The expansion of Ukraine’s defense capabilities will provide new tools for the de-occupation of our land and bringing peace closer,” he wrote.
Several nations, rights groups and UN oppose US move to send cluster bombs to Ukraine
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Washington's allies, including UK, Germany, and Canada have opposed its decision of sending
Ukraine cluster munitions, as a part of an $800 million security package. Here's why
Since the United States, announced that it would send the controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine for the first time amid Kyiv’s counteroffensive, it has drawn opposition and criticism from its allies in Europe, the United Nations, and international organisations. Meanwhile, Kyiv, on Saturday (July 8) welcoming Washington’s decision said that cluster bombs would be used for retaking Ukrainian territory and vowed not to use them in Moscow.
About cluster munition
Cluster munitions have been widely denounced for killing and maiming civilians as they typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets which had targets indiscriminately over a wide area, threatening civilians. Additionally, some of the small bomblets do not explode when deployed and can pose a danger for years after a conflict ends.
Different countries about US’ decision
The announcement of sending Ukraine cluster munitions, as a part of an $800 million security package, was made on Friday by US President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan. “We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance,” said the White House official. He added, “This is why we’ve deferred the decision for as long as we could.”
Germany
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the country as a part of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), opposes Washington’s decision.
BAERBOCK TOLD REPORTERS, “I HAVE FOLLOWED THE MEDIA REPORTS. FOR US, AS A STATE PARTY, THE OSLO AGREEMENT APPLIES”. SHE SAID REFERRING TO THE CCM, WHICH WAS OPENED FOR SIGNATURE IN THE NORWEGIAN CAPITAL IN 2008.
The CCM bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions. The US along with countries like China and Russia is not a part of the treaty which bans the bombs in more than 100 countries.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Saturday also announced Britain’s opposition to sending cluster munitions to Ukraine in line with the CCM, while reiterating support for Kyiv. “We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion,” said the British PM.
Spain
Similarly, the Spanish defence minister, Margarita Robles, on Saturday also said that cluster bombs should not be sent to help Ukraine. Spain is also a signatory of CCM, in line with which, has also banned cluster munitions. She went on to reiterate Spain’s support for Ukraine.
“Spain, based on the firm commitment it has with Ukraine, also has a firm commitment that certain weapons and bombs cannot be delivered under any circumstances,” said Robles. She added, “No to cluster bombs and yes to the legitimate defence of Ukraine, which we understand should not be carried out with cluster bombs.”
Canada
Canada also expressed its opposition to Washington’s decision and reiterated its commitment to the Oslo agreement. “We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to putting an end to the effects cluster munitions have on civilians – particularly children,” said the Canadian government.
It added, “Canada is fully compliant with the Convention and we take seriously our obligation under the Convention to encourage its universal adoption.”
United Nations
The spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN chief also opposed the move and that he “does not want there to be continued use of cluster munitions on the battlefield.”
Rights groups fume
In a series of statements, several international human rights organisations have criticised Washington’s decision and raised alarm about how it would affect civilians’ lives.
Human Rights Watch said that “transferring these weapons would inevitably cause long-term suffering for civilians and undermine the international opprobrium of their use opposes.”
Similarly, Amnesty International said that the Biden administration should understand that “any decision enabling the broader use of cluster bombs in this war will likely lead to one predictable outcome: the further death of civilians.” It added, “Their (cluster munitions) transfer and use by any country under any circumstances is incompatible with international law.”
Ukraine responds to criticism
Amid criticism, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov took to Twitter and welcomed US’ decision and said it would help to “de-occupation of our internationally recognized territories” and vowed that the munitions would be not used in “officially recognized territory of Russia.”
“Our position is simple - we need to liberate our temporarily occupied territories and save the lives of our people,” said Reznikov. He also spoke about how the munitions would help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and that Kyiv will keep a strict record of their use and exchange information with its partners.
US cluster bombs for Ukraine show ‘weakness’: Russia
Russian Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, in a statement, said that the US decision to send cluster munitions is an “act of desperation and shows weakness against the backdrop of the failure of the much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive.”
She added, “The latest ‘miracle weapon’ which Washington and Kyiv are betting on, without thinking about the grave consequences, will have no effect on the special military operation,” referring to what Moscow officially calls its campaign in Ukraine.
(With inputs from agencies)
Jul 8, 2023
FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian military serviceman Igor Ovcharruck holds a defused cluster bomb from an MSLR missile, among a display of pieces of rockets used by Russian army, that a Ukrainian munitions expert said did not explode on impact, in the region of Kharkiv, Ukraine, October 21, 2022. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo
U.S. Army soldiers draw 155mm Base Burn Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) rounds to carry into their vehicles during a load exercise at Camp Hovey, South Korea September 20, 2016. U.S. Army/2nd Lt. Gabriel Jenko/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
A U.S. Army soldier transfers a 155mm Base Burn Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) round into a vehicle during a load exercise at Camp Hovey, South Korea September 20, 2016. U.S. Army/2nd Lt. Gabriel Jenko/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Dozens of 155mm Base Burn Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) rounds wait to be loaded into M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers and M992 Field Artillery Support Vehicles at a U.S. Army motor pool at Camp Hovey, South Korea September 20, 2016. U.S. Army/2nd Lt. Gabriel Jenko/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov welcomed a U.S. decision to send cluster bombs to Kyiv, saying it would help to liberate Ukrainian territory but promised the munitions would not be used in Russia.
The U.S. announced on Friday it would supply Ukraine with widely banned cluster munitions for its counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces.
Reznikov said the munitions would help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, adding Ukraine would keep a strict record of their use and exchange information with its partners.
"Our position is simple - we need to liberate our temporarily occupied territories and save the lives of our people," Reznikov wrote on Twitter.
"Ukraine will use these munitions only for the de-occupation of our internationally recognized territories. These munitions will not be used on the officially recognized territory of Russia."
Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. They typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Those that fail to explode pose a danger for decades.
Moscow again criticised the U.S. decision on Saturday, describing it as another "egregious" example of Washington's "anti-Russian" course.
"Another 'wonder weapon', which Washington and Kyiv are counting on without considering its grave consequences, will in no way affect the course of the special military operation, the goals and objectives of which will be fully achieved," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
Jake Sullivan, U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser, sought on Friday to make the case for providing the arms to Ukraine to reclaim territory seized since Russia invaded in February 2022.
"We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance," Sullivan told reporters. "But there is also a massive risk of civilian harm if Russian troops and tanks roll over Ukrainian positions and take more Ukrainian territory and subjugate more Ukrainian civilians because Ukraine does not have enough artillery," he said.
Reznikov said the military would not use cluster munitions in urban areas and would use them only "to break through the enemy defence 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.
Spain, a signatory to the convention, said it opposed the decision.
"Spain, based on the firm commitment it has with Ukraine, also has a firm commitment that certain weapons and bombs cannot be delivered under any circumstances," Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles told reporters at a Madrid rally on Saturday.
Britain is also a signatory to the convention which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.
"We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion," he told reporters on Saturday.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash in Kyiv, additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin in MoscowEditing by Ros Russell and Mark Potter)
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