The United States is considering supplying Ukraine with cluster bombs, weapons banned by an international convention. And the idea is already causing controversy.

This was stated in the Washington Post by the American joint chief of staff, General Mike Milley, explaining that it would be a way to lend a hand to Kiev's counter-offensive against the Russian forces, well protected and holed up in the trenches. A counter-offensive which, Milley prophesies, «will be very difficult and will be very long and bloody. I would not have many illusions about this», given the slowness of the operations conducted from Kiev with little air and artillery protection.

Milley also said that Russia also makes extensive use of cluster munitions on the Ukrainian front. «The Ukrainians have requested them - said the US general - and other European states have already supplied them (to Kiev) and Russia is using them. A decision-making process is underway."

Russia, Ukraine and the United States, along with several other states, have never acceded to the 2008 Dublin Convention, which banned these munitions, signed and ratified by 123 countries, including two thirds of the 30 states NATO members. These are grenades and smaller bombs contained by the tens or hundreds inside rockets, artillery shells or aircraft bombs which, by exploding, disperse them, making them fall like rain over a large surface. They are considered unacceptable because they strike indiscriminately and also because in 40% of cases, according to estimates by the International Red Cross, they remain unexploded, thus later becoming a further serious threat to civilians.

(Unioneonline/ss)