Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramilla Jayapal raised concerns about human rights also falling victim to the Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions artillery rounds that will be included in the Pentagon’s latest $800 million security assistance package to Ukraine.
“They are indiscriminate weapons that disperse hundreds of bomblets which can travel far beyond military targets and injure, maim and kill civilians — often long after a conflict is over,” he said. Human rights groups have condemned the use of cluster rounds, and more than 100 countries, including America’s European allies, have banned their use. However, the U.S., Russia and Ukraine did not sign that agreement.
The president’s advisers said that helping tip the scales in favor of sending the cluster munitions was that Russia is already using them and putting Ukraine civilians at risk. “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no military assistance shall be furnished for cluster munitions, no defense export license for cluster munitions may be issued, and no cluster munitions or cluster munitions technology shall be sold or transferred,” the amendment reads.
Kyiv has promised the White House its forces will not use the munitions in areas where civilians are likely to encounter them, Pentagon officials said.