Vowing that the U.S. will not leave Ukraine defenseless, U.S National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan confirmed on Friday, July 7, 2023 that the Biden administration will deliver cluster munitions to Ukraine.
Sullivan stressed that Ukraine has promised to use the controversial bombs carefully. U.S. officials have said that the U.S. will provide thousands of the rounds, but provided no specific numbers.
The munitions which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are deemed by the U.S. as a way to get Ukraine critically needed ammunition to help push its counteroffensive.
Banned by many countries, cluster munitions leave unexploded bombs which often cause unintended deaths.
The unexploded bombs, known as duds, can remain embedded in the ground for years, posing a serious danger to civilians, most notably children.
U.S. leaders debated the issue for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision this week. Nonetheless, the decision was met with divided reactions from Congress, as some Democrats criticized the plan while some Republicans supported it.
Biden disclosed that sending cluster munitions to Ukraine was a “difficult decision” but Ukraine needed them as it was running out of ammunition in its war against Russia.
Sullivan defended the decision, saying the U.S. will send a version of the munition that has a reduced “dud rate,” meaning fewer of the smaller bomblets fail to explode.
“We recognize the cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance. This is why we’ve 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.”
Jake Sullivan
Moreover, Sullivan remarked that the U.S. consulted closely with allies before making the final decision, noting that even allies who have signed on to a ban of the bombs “have indicated, both privately and many of them publicly over the course of today, that they understand our decision.”
Allies “recognize the difference between Russia using its cluster munitions to attack Ukraine and Ukraine using cluster munitions to defend itself its citizens and its sovereign territory,” Sullivan added.
Colin Kahl, the Undersecretary of defense for policy, said the key reason for providing the bombs is to keep Ukraine in the fight.
“Things are going a little slower than some had hoped. So this is to make sure that the Ukrainians have the confidence that they have what they need. But frankly, also that the Russians know that the Ukrainians are going to stay in the game.”
Colin Kahl
Kahl iterated that the cluster bombs are not a permanent solution, but more of “a bridge” as the U.S. and allies work to increase the production of the 155 mm rounds.
“A Timely, Broad And Much-Needed Defence Aid Package”
Ukrainian President, Volodomyr Zelenskyy thanked U.S President Joe Biden for the defence package after Washington announced that it would provide cluster munitions to Kyiv.
“A timely, broad and much-needed defence aid package from the United States,” Zelenskyy posted on Twitter, thanking the U.S people and Biden for their “decisive steps.”
“The expansion of Ukraine’s defence capabilities will provide new tools for the de-occupation of our land and bringing peace closer,” the tweet read.
The cluster munitions are included in a new $800 million package of military aid the U.S. will send to Ukraine.
Officials disclosed that Friday’s package, drawn from Pentagon stocks, will also include Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles and an array of ammunition, such as rounds for howitzers and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
