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Even after 500 days of war, there is no end in sight: Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population continue unabated, the counter-offensive is making little headway, and much of Western military aid has been used up or destroyed.
The military situation is hopeless: Kyiv is threatened with a shortage of ammunition. Stocks of supporting states are also gradually running out. Not without reason, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls on the West to supply his country with cluster munitions.
But their use is controversial. Because some of the secondary projectiles don’t explode on impact but stay where they are and still pose a danger to playing kids, walkers or farmers decades later.
Each year, such unexploded ordnance injures, maims and kills hundreds of people in theaters of war. Therefore, most states have pledged to no longer use cluster munitions. However, the US, Russia and Ukraine are not included.
Ukraine claims that Russia has already used cluster munitions in its attacks, so it also depends on the use of controversial weapons and will do everything possible to ensure that the damage to its own population is as small as possible.
Against this background, the United States agreed to the supply of cluster munitions as a “temporary measure.”
Is it right now?
It is not right?
One thing is clear: even if Ukraine does everything possible to minimize the risks, this type of ammunition will continue to cause civilian casualties for many years to come. And each side of the war finds arguments in favor of the need to use prohibited weapons. Needless to say, no one knows whether the use of cluster munitions will really help Ukraine significantly.
But it is also true that the longer the war goes on, the less likely Ukraine is to regain its occupied territories. Over time, Western support is likely to wane, military aid will dwindle, and Ukraine will increasingly find itself on its own. But that would mean that the attack cost Russia, which may not be in Europe’s interests.
Switzerland could reduce the need for cluster munitions by finally allowing Western countries to re-export Swiss weapons and ammunition.
It would be a small but important sign.
Source: Blick
I am David Miller, a highly experienced news reporter and author for 24 Instant News. I specialize in opinion pieces and have written extensively on current events, politics, social issues, and more. My writing has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC News. I strive to be fair-minded while also producing thought-provoking content that encourages readers to engage with the topics I discuss.
