US to help demine areas where cluster munitions were used – Austin

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said this in an interview with CNN.

"First of all, I think we should remember that they are fighting hard to defend their sovereign territory. You know, they’re not asking for the munitions to go invade another, another country, as the Russians did, they’ve been using cluster munitions from the very beginning," he said. 

Austin added that Ukrainians have committed "in writing" to make sure that these munitions are used only in the "appropriate places," and not used in populated areas.

"They will record the places that they use them and they will prioritize de-mining efforts. And we will help them do that, in those places where they gave us the conditions," he said. 

When asked how long it would take the US to provide Ukraine with cluster bombs, the Pentagon chief said that he wanted to make sure that Ukraine can remain successful in its fight and not speculate on how long it will take.

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 as cluster munitions are banned by a 2008 international treaty.

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

On June 30, media reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden is seriously considering the possibility of sending Ukraine cluster munitions, the use of which is controversial.

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

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

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commented on the potential supply of cluster munitions to Kyiv, noting that Ukraine is defending itself in an aggressive war.

The UN Human Rights Office in Geneva has responded to reports that the United States may provide cluster munitions to Ukraine by opposing such supplies.

Western media, citing their sources, report that the United States will begin to ship cluster munitions to Ukraine.

On July 12, Zelenskyy commented on the provision of cluster munitions from the United States and said that Ukraine needed them to defend itself, while Russia needed them to kill civilians.

On July 13, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, confirmed that Ukraine had received cluster munitions from the United States. He also noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had not yet used them.