The Russian embassy in the United States stated in comments published late Sunday that the White House is effectively acknowledging the commission of war crimes by agreeing to send cluster munitions to Ukraine. The embassy noted on the Telegram app, "The statements made by National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby regarding supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions have caught our attention. The official has in fact acknowledged the United States’ war crimes in the Ukrainian conflict."
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of already using cluster munitions in the ongoing war that has lasted for 500 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine has pledged not to use the munitions that the United States plans to ship to Kyiv against Russia. More than 100 countries ban cluster munitions, and neither Russia, Ukraine, nor the United States has signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of these weapons. These bombs typically release a large number of smaller bombs that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area, and unexploded ordnance poses risks for decades after the conflict ends.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced that it would provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth $800 million, which includes cluster munitions. The Pentagon stated, "We will provide Kyiv with cluster munitions... The results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive have been below our expectations, and we need to ensure that Kyiv has all the necessary tools."
Earlier on Friday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions is "the right thing to do," noting that Kyiv has provided "written assurances" regarding their use. In a press conference, Sullivan stated, "We understand the dangers of using cluster munitions, which is why we delayed making a decision on this for as long as possible." He confirmed that Washington received "written assurances" from Kyiv regarding "safe usage to mitigate risks to civilians," stating: "The Ukrainian government has every incentive to mitigate any risks to civilians as they are their own citizens."
According to Sullivan, these assurances include "Ukraine's commitment not to use cluster bombs outside its territory and its pledge to use them in a way that does not harm civilians." He added, "Russia has used cluster munitions in Ukraine... The use of cluster munitions by the Russians is unacceptable and unjustifiable, as they are being used to attack a foreign country and against civilian, not military, targets." He emphasized that this constitutes "a blatant violation of international law and a form of war crimes by Russia in Ukraine."
