The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has approved the supply of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine, according to officials from his Administration reported to several American media, including the newspaper Washington Post.
The United States expects Ukraine to use mines on its own territory and has committed not to use them in areas populated by its own civilians, according to a source who asked not to be identified told the Washington Post, the first media to report on this new endorsement of Ukraine. Biden to Ukraine in its war against invading Russian troops.
Biden, who will cede power next January to Republican Donald Trump, winner of the November 5 elections and supporter of a quick solution to the conflict through concessions on the part of Ukraine, recently authorized kyiv to use ATACMS long-range missiles. against Russian territory, a milestone in the war that began in February 2022 and that yesterday, Tuesday, marked 1,000 days.
Russia has accused the outgoing US president of “adding fuel to the fire” with this decision that now reinforces the delivery of antipersonnel landmines.
The Washington Post notes in this regard that “sending antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine is also potentially controversial, although among a different group: more than 160 countries have signed an international treaty banning their use, noting that indiscriminate weapons can cause lasting damage.” to civilians.”
However, the government of Volodomir Zelensky, the newspaper adds, has sought them since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Russian forces have generously deployed antipersonnel landmines on the front lines, preventing Ukraine from advancing in its attempt to recover its own territory.
One of the four sources consulted by the newspaper specified that the type of antipersonnel landmine that will be delivered to Ukraine is “non-persistent,” which means that the devices self-destruct or lose battery charge and become inactive in a matter of days. or weeks, reducing the danger to civilians.
The official said Ukrainian policymakers have pledged not to deploy mines in densely populated areas but, the newspaper said, arms control experts say even non-persistent mines pose a security danger.
“Russia is attacking the Ukrainian lines in the east with waves of troops, regardless of the casualties they are suffering. Therefore, it is obvious that Ukrainians are suffering losses and more towns and cities are at risk of falling. “These mines were made specifically to combat exactly this,” one of the sources said.
“When used in conjunction with the other munitions we are already providing to Ukraine, the intention is that they will contribute to a more effective defense,” he added.
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