German Foreign Minister opposes US supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine

Baerbock made the statement to reporters at a climate conference in Vienna, Reuters reports.

Asked to comment on the information that the US is close to agreeing to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions, Burbock said, "I have been following the media reports. For us, as a state party, the Oslo agreement applies."

Baerbock was referring to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which 123 countries signed in the Norwegian capital in 2008. The document prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions. However, the US, Ukraine, and Russia are not signatories to this convention.

Supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine

In December 2022, Ukraine asked the United States to provide it with cluster munitions for MLRS and artillery shells. At the time, the administration of US President Joe Biden was not ready to fulfill this request and was considering it.

In February 2023, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Western allies to provide the country with cluster munitions.

Following Ukraine's initial request to the United States for cluster munitions, there was an expansion of the appeal. Kyiv specifically asked Washington for MK-20 aircraft cluster bombs with the intention of modifying them for use with drones. It was revealed that there was some level of support for Ukraine's request within the US Congress. However, the Biden administration strongly opposed the proposal due to the international treaty banning cluster munitions that was established in 2008.

Later, four members of the US Congress from the Republican Party called on the US President to send cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Biden administration not to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions, warning of the danger to civilians.

The Pentagon said it was considering providing Ukraine with cluster munitions.