The German government has expressed this Friday its confidence in the US arguments defending the delivery of cluster bombs to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, although Germany is a signatory party to the international treaty that prohibits the production and use of such munitions.” that our American friends did not take the decision to supply the corresponding ammunition lightly”, declared the government spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, commenting on the information about the possible shipment. Hebestreit, in turn, explained that the use of the also known as fragmentation bombs would occur in Ukraine under “a framework of special conditions”. “Ukraine is using a munition to protect its own civilian population. This is a use by its own government to liberate its own territory,” he argued. “Therefore, we must also remember again that Russia has already used munitions of large-scale cluster in a war of aggression against Ukraine in violation of international law,” he added.
The statements by the government spokesman contrast with the secrecy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock. On his way to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting on climate change in Vienna, Baerbock, from the Green party, hinted at his opposition to the supply of cluster bombs to Ukraine by stressing that “for Germany, the Oslo Treaty governs.” Baerbock was referring to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, agreed in Oslo and in force since 2008. Several media outlets reported on Thursday, citing government sources, that the government led by Joe Biden plans to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine. Both countries are not among the 111 signatories to the international treaty that prohibits its production, storage and use. The Pentagon, however, did not want to confirm it. According to journalistic media, the plans could be officially announced in the next few hours.
Cluster munitions are missiles and bombs that explode in the air over the target, dispersing or releasing many smaller explosive devices that are known as submunitions or bomblets. This type of munition is criticized because a significant percentage of explosive devices do not usually detonate, but remain in the place where they fall without exploding, endangering the population.
Unexploded bombs also pose a danger after the conflict ends. Ukraine alleges that it will use these bombs against entrenched Russian troops before the advance of its forces, so it will not endanger the civilian population.
Several international NGOs such as Human Rights Watch have denounced the use of these weapons and have asked Washington not to deliver them to Ukraine.
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