Sunak “rejects” use of cluster bombs after Biden agrees to send them to Ukraine

Rishi Sunak made it clear that the UK “does not recommend” the use of cluster munitions Joe Biden agreed to send the bombs Ukraine to help fight against Russia.

The Prime Minister stressed on Saturday that Britain was one of 123 countries to sign a convention banning their use after the US president took a “difficult decision”.

Mr Sunak, who will meet Mr Biden in London on Monday ahead of a Nato summit, said Britain was instead supporting Kyiv providing tanks and long-range weapons.

Mr Biden has faced criticism for supplying the munitions, which are banned by many defense alliance allies because they have killed many civilians.

The president tried to justify the bombs as necessary, because “the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition” and they will be a temporary measure to stop Moscow’s tanks.

But Mr Sunak chose not to back the move during the Selby election campaign, citing Britain’s commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

“Well, the UK has signed a convention that bans the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use,” he told broadcasters.

“We will continue to play our part in supporting Ukraine against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion, but we have done so by providing heavy battle tanks and more recently long-range weapons, and hopefully all countries can continue to support Ukraine.

“Russia’s act of barbarism causes untold suffering to millions of people.

“It is right that we are collectively standing up to this and I will be going to the NATO summit next week in Vilniuswhere we will discuss exactly this with our allies, how we can strengthen support for Ukraine.”

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has publicly fallen out with Mr Sunak, fully supported Mr Biden’s “difficult but brave decision” to put cluster munitions in Kiev.

“He is right. This is a terrible weapon. But they have been used by Putin for more than a year in his program of indiscriminate killing of completely innocent people,” said the former deputy.

“The sooner we help the Ukrainians to win, the more lives we will save around the world. And never forget – it is Ukrainians who will use these weapons on their land to defend themselves.”

The US has claimed that Kiev has given assurances that it will not use cluster bombs in cities, but some NATO allies are sure to be concerned about their transfer.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US for the “timely, extensive and much-needed package of defense assistance” that will “bring Ukraine closer to defeating the enemy, and democracy to defeating the dictatorship.”

Ammunition is to be discussed at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday, where Ukraine’s bid to join NATO will be discussed.

The weapon deploys a large number of bombs over a wide area.

Unexploded bombs can continue to pose a threat to civilians long after conflicts have ended.

Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits their use or stockpiling because of their indiscriminate effects on civilians.

The USA, Ukraine and Russia did not sign the treaty.

Both Moscow and Kyiv used cluster munitions in the war.

Chairman of the Defense Committee of the House of Commons Tobias Ellwood urged the US to “reconsider”.

The Tory MP tweeted: “This is the wrong call and will set back international goodwill.

“Their use leaves deadly unexploded ordnance over the battlefield, killing and injuring civilians long after the war is over.”