Stoltenberg on cluster munitions: Ukraine uses them to defend itself

Stoltenberg said this on Friday at a press conference ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius, European Pravda reports.

The Secretary General noted that NATO as an organisation does not have a united position on the use of this type of ammunition.

"Some allies have signed the convention (on cluster munitions - ed.), and some allies have not signed the convention," the Secretary General said, referring to the convention that prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions.

"It is up to the individual allies to make decisions on the supply of weapons and military supplies to Ukraine," he added.

At the same time, Stoltenberg stressed that Ukraine is facing a brutal war.

"This brutality is reflected every day in the fact that we see casualties every day and that cluster munitions are being used by both sides," Stoltenberg added.

However, he noted that Russia uses cluster munitions in a brutal war of aggression to conquer another country.

"At the same time, Ukraine is using them to defend itself," Stoltenberg said.

The best way to end this brutal war is for Russia to stop attacking another country, the NATO Secretary General stressed.

What is known about cluster munitions

The 2008 pact, known as the Convention on Cluster Munitions, was adopted by 123 countries, including a majority of the 28 NATO members. However, countries such as the United States, Russia, and Ukraine did not become parties to the convention. It is important to note that Russia is actively using cluster munitions in the war against 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, 4 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.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock said that Germany is against sending cluster munitions to Ukraine.