An Irish bishop has criticised the decision of U.S. President Joe Biden, to include cluster bombs in the latest military aid package to Ukraine.
Bishop Kevin Doran said that cluster bombs killed civilians and that their use was “immoral and unacceptable”
The Bishop of Elphin was responding to the announcement from the US administration of a $800m military aid package to Ukraine which included cluster munitions.
While the White House previously condemned Russia’s use of cluster bombs as a possible war crime, President Biden now says he feels their use is required.
“It took me a while to be convinced to do it. But the main thing is, they either have the weapons to stop the Russians now from their — keep them from stopping the Ukrainian offensive through these areas — or they don’t. And I think they needed them,” Biden told CNN.
However, Bishop Doran said that use of cluster bombs “risked a further escalation” of the conflict and the killing of many more civilians.
In a statement, Bishop Doran said that he “unreservedly” supported “the right of Ukraine to its territorial integrity.”
“This includes the right to defend their people by engaging in war against the armed forces of Russia on Ukrainian soil,” he said.
However he added that “even in war, however, there are moral obligations.”
“One of those obligations is to avoid the use of weapons which place non-combatants, men, women and children, at grave risk,” he said.
“Cluster bombs are made up of hundreds of small bombs, like grenades, which scatter on impact. Many of them do not explode immediately, but remain lying on the ground, often for weeks, so that civilians – and especially children – coming across them can often be maimed and killed,” the Bishop said.
“Ireland, along with over a hundred other nations, including leading NATO members (France, Germany and UK), have signed a Convention against Cluster Munitions. The Holy See was among the first states to sign. The Vatican issued a statement in 2008 saying: ‘The Holy See considers the Convention on cluster munitions an important step in the protection of civilians during and after conflicts, from the indiscriminate effects of this inhumane type of weapon.’
NATO has frequently condemned the use of cluster munitions by Russia in its immoral invasion of Ukraine. Now the United States, a leading member of NATO is committing to give cluster bombs to Ukraine. This risks a further escalation of the conflict and the killing of many more Ukrainian civilians. It is immoral and unacceptable,” he said.
However, Ukraine have hit back at criticisms of the U.S. military aid package, arguing that Russia has used cluster bombs in the region since the start of the war.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also said that the Irish government does not agree with the decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine.
“I think it’s the wrong decision. The United States are allies of ours and of course we support Ukraine in their battle to defend their country and defend their freedom in democracy. Both Russia and Ukraine are using cluster bombs. I think that’s wrong,” Mr Varadkar said.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Mr Biden for “a timely, broad, and much-needed defence aid package” saying it would “bring Ukraine closer to victory over the enemy, and democracy to victory over dictatorship”.