The US reportedly plans to give Ukraine longer-range missiles packed with cluster bombs despite widespread concerns that such munitions can cause civilian casualties.
US officials say the administration of President Joe Biden is close to approving the shipment of the weapons. The US delivered cluster munitions in 155 mm artillery rounds to Kiev earlier this year. Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. They typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Those that fail to explode pose a danger for decades after a conflict ends. The US military believes these bombs will help Ukraine push back against Russian forces. Russia has frequently warned against the influx of Western weapons to Ukraine. It says the move will prolong the Moscow-Kiev conflict that erupted in February last year.