The US may want to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine. The federal government can understand Washington’s plans. The UN human rights office in Geneva, however, expresses concern.
After reports of a possible delivery of cluster munitions from the USA to Ukraine, the federal government pointed out that Germany had joined the international agreement to ban this munition. At the same time, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit signaled understanding for a delivery by the United States, which, like Ukraine, has not signed the contract.
“We are certain that our US friends did not take the decision to supply the appropriate ammunition lightly,” Hebestreit said.
The cluster munitions would be used by Ukraine in “a special constellation”. “Ukraine is using ammunition to protect its own civilian population. It’s about a use by its own government to liberate its own territory,” said the government spokesman. “So we should also remember that Russia has already used cluster munitions on a large scale in a war of aggression against Ukraine that violates international law.”
UN human rights office against use of cluster munitions
The UN Human Rights Office has expressed concern if the US were to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions. “Such ammunition kills and maims people long after a conflict has ended,” said a spokeswoman in Geneva. “Therefore, the operation should be stopped immediately.” The Office called on Russia and Ukraine to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use, production and transfer of certain types of conventional cluster munitions. More than 100 states have signed it – the US has not.
US media reported on Thursday, citing unnamed government sources, that the deliveries were planned. The Pentagon initially did not want to confirm this. Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder also recalled Moscow’s use of cluster bombs: “I would like to say that the Russians have already used cluster munitions on the battlefield.” According to CNN, the plans could be announced today. The White House had previously said it was examining the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine, which was under Russian attack.
Cluster munitions are rockets and bombs that burst in the air over the target and scatter or release many small explosive devices – so-called submunitions. However, many of these explosive devices do not detonate immediately, but remain unexploded and endanger the population even years after the conflict.
“We would carefully select bullets with a lower dud rate for which we have current test data,” Ryder said.
Source: Stern
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