Washington D.C. - US President Joe Biden has defended his controversial decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs, acknowledging the risk they pose to civilians but highlighting the urgent need to support the country's dwindling ammunition supplies. The move has drawn criticism from human rights groups and some Democrats, while a Moscow envoy condemned what he called Washington's "cynicism."

In an interview with CNN on Friday, President Biden described the decision as "very difficult" and explained that he had taken time to be convinced of its necessity. He stated that the Ukrainians were running out of ammunition, prompting him to act despite the record of cluster bombs causing civilian casualties.

Ukraine's leader praised the move as timely, but the decision has sparked opposition from human rights organizations and some members of the Democratic Party. Cluster bombs are banned by over 120 countries due to their indiscriminate nature and potential for harm to civilians. Both Russia and Ukraine have used cluster bombs during the ongoing conflict.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking at a White House briefing, acknowledged the risk of civilian harm from unexploded bombs and emphasized that the decision had been deferred for as long as possible. Sullivan stated that Ukraine needed a supply lifeline as the US increases its domestic production of ammunition, emphasizing that the US would not leave Ukraine defenseless during the conflict.

The use of cluster munitions has raised concerns due to their high failure or dud rate, which means unexploded bomblets can pose a threat for years, detonating indiscriminately at a later time. Sullivan assured reporters that the American cluster bombs being provided to Ukraine were safer than those used by Russia, with a dud rate of less than 2.5%, while Russia's dud rate was estimated to be between 30-40%.

President Biden's decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs bypasses US laws prohibiting the production, use, or transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate exceeding 1%. Early in the conflict, the White House had previously stated that if allegations of Russia's use of cluster and vacuum bombs were true, it could constitute a potential war crime.

The United Nations human rights office, represented by Marta Hurtado, called for an immediate end to the use of such munitions and their deployment in any location.

President Biden's decision to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine remains a contentious issue, highlighting the complex balance between supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities and the potential risks posed to civilian populations. The move will likely continue to draw scrutiny from critics who oppose the use of cluster munitions due to their harmful impact on non-combatants.