The U.S. will provide cluster bombs to Ukraine and defends the delivery of the controversial weapon

The decision comes on the eve of the NATO summit in Lithuania, where President Joe Biden is likely to face questions from allies on why the U.S. would send a weapon into Ukraine that more than two-thirds of alliance members have banned because it has a track record for causing many civilian casualties. And it was met with divided reactions from Congress, as some Democrats criticized the plan while some Republicans backed it.

But Marta Hurtado, speaking for the UN human rights office, said Friday "the use of such munitions should stop immediately and not be used in any place." Questioned at length about the decision, Sullivan said the U.S. consulted closely with allies before making the final decision, noting that even allies who have signed on to a ban of the bombs "have indicated, both privately and many of them publicly over the course of today, that they understand our decision."

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, some cluster munitions leave behind bomblets that have a high rate of failure to explode -- up to 40 per cent in some cases. With a claimed rate under 3 per cent for the supply to Ukraine, U.S. officials said there would be fewer unexploded bombs left behind to harm civilians.

"The most important of those are Poland and Romania," Brobst said, noting that the U.S. weapons will probably go through those countries en route to Ukraine. "While some allies raise objections, this is not going to prevent from being transferred into Ukraine." Kahl said the cluster bombs are not a permanent solution, but more of "a bridge" as the U.S. and allies work to increase the production of the 155 mm rounds.

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