The US will provide cluster bombs to Ukraine and defends the delivery of the controversial weapon

President Joe Biden has decided to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine for the war against Russia, even though the United Nations urges the warring countries to avoid using them. The decision was announced Friday. Biden says it was a “difficult decision” but “the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition” and the cluster bombs should provide a temporary fix. There are widespread concerns about civilian casualties from cluster bombs. But the Pentagon says the munitions it will provide to Ukraine have a reduced “dud rate.” That means fewer of the unexploded rounds that can result in unintended civilian deaths. Cluster bombs open in the air to hit multiple targets at once.