On Friday, it is anticipated that the United States will announce its intention to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions, which are widely banned, as part of a security package worth $800 million.
Ukraine has stated that this move would have an “extraordinary psycho-emotional impact” on the occupying Russian forces. Cluster munitions are prohibited by over 100 countries due to their indiscriminate nature, as they release numerous smaller bomblets that can cause casualties over a wide area.
Unexploded ordnance from cluster munitions can pose a threat for many years after a conflict concludes. While human rights organizations oppose the decision made by Washington, these munitions could potentially bolster Ukraine’s efforts to launch a counteroffensive and regain control over territories that have been seized by Russian forces since their invasion in February 2022.