US confirms shipment of cluster munitions to Ukraine

The United States confirmed, this Friday (7), the decision to supply cluster munitions, also known as cluster, to Ukraine.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan explained the rationale behind the United States’ decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, telling reporters on Friday that President Joe Biden’s administration had delayed the decision “as long as possible” due to possible risks to civilians.

First, Sullivan said the US bases its security assistance decisions on Ukraine’s needs on the ground. “Ukraine needs artillery to sustain its offensive and defensive operations. Artillery is at the heart of this conflict,” he explained.

“We will not leave Ukraine defenseless at any point in this conflict, period,” he said.

Second, he pointed to Russia’s use of cluster munitions since the beginning of its invasion. “Russia has been using cluster munitions with high failure or failure rates of between 30% and 40%. In that environment,” Sullivan said, noting that US cluster munitions “provided failure rates far below what Russia is providing – not more than 2.5%”

Finally, Sullivan said the US is working closely with Ukraine on its request for cluster munitions, as it will require post-conflict mine clearance to protect civilians from harm. “This will be necessary regardless of whether the United States supplies these munitions or not, given Russia’s widespread use of cluster munitions,” Sullivan said.

While the United States recognizes that there is a risk of harm to civilians from unexploded bombs, Sullivan said there is also a huge risk if Russia takes “more Ukrainian territory and subjugates more Ukrainian civilians because Ukraine doesn’t have enough artillery.”