Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) expressed concerns about the Biden administration sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, saying he has some “real doubts” about the decision.
Fox News anchor Shannon Bream asked the Senate Democrat about the controversial decision to send deadly bombs to the war-torn country, who responded by bringing up a 2008 treaty signed by 123 countries. , which pledged not to use cluster munition weapons in war. The US, Russia and Ukraine have not signed the treaty.
“There is an international convention against [the] use of these cluster munitions that started in 2008,” he said. “And the reason that the ban was put in place, as you described, is that these types of ammunition can lead to certain dangers to civilians.”
Cluster munitions are designed to deploy large numbers of submunitions over a wide area, however, unexploded bombs can remain explosive hazards for civilians.
Kaine acknowledged that Russia had previously used cluster munitions to target civilians in Ukraine, adding that Ukraine did not intend to use the munitions to target Russian civilians.
“However, I will say more, I have some real concerns about this,” he added. “If there’s an international ban, and the US says, ‘But here’s a good reason to do something different,’ it gives a green light to other countries to do the same. something different.”
However, Kaine praised the Biden administration for reaching an agreement with Ukraine to “use these munitions in a way to drive out the Russian military while minimizing the risks to civilians in Ukraine.”
The Biden administration announced controversial plans to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions last week, which Kyiv has long requested.
The decision sparked concern over the weapon’s ability to harm civilians and children long after the bombs fell, with human rights activists and some lawmakers speaking out against the choice.
However, Biden defended the decision, saying the Ukrainians needed them as they ran out of ammunition. He noted that the “main thing” is whether the Ukrainians have the weapons to stop the Russians.
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