Arrr! UK cap'n Sunak and Spain be shoutin' against Biden's choice to send cluster bombs to Ukraine afore the grand NATO meetin'!
2023-07-09
Arr! Avast, ye scurvy dogs! Admiral Rishi Sunak o' the British fleet and Cap'n Margarita Robles o' the Spanish Armada be fightin' against Cap'n Biden's foolhardy plan to send cluster bombs to Ukraine! By Blackbeard's beard, they be raisin' the Jolly Roger!
The United Kingdom and Spain have expressed their concerns about President Biden's decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine ahead of the NATO summit in Lithuania. The UK, as a signatory to a convention that prohibits the use of cluster munitions, stated that they would continue to support Ukraine but have provided heavy battle tanks and long-range weapons instead. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized the need to stand up against Russia's "act of barbarism" causing suffering to millions of people. Spain also voiced its commitment to Ukraine's defense but stated that certain weapons, including cluster bombs, should not be delivered under any circumstances.The decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine has tested NATO solidarity, as more than two-thirds of alliance members have banned this weapon due to its history of causing civilian casualties. The US, Ukraine, and Russia are not part of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, while the UK and Spain are among the signatories.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov responded to the announcement by outlining five principles for the use of cluster munitions, including using them for the de-occupation of recognized territories and avoiding urban areas. Reznikov stressed the importance of liberating temporarily occupied territories and inflicting losses on the enemy to save the lives of Ukrainian people.
Regarding the upcoming summit in Lithuania, the US and Germany prioritize supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine instead of extending a formal invitation to join NATO. However, countries on NATO's eastern flank, such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, seek firmer assurances on future membership.
It remains to be seen how the NATO summit will address these issues, but discussions on strengthening support for Ukraine and the possibility of elevating the relationship with Ukraine within NATO are expected.