Pentagon Plans to Supply Prohibited Mines to Ukraine, Reports Say
US President Joe Biden has allegedly approved the shipment of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The Biden administration has opted to send anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine, according to reports from multiple news outlets on Tuesday citing unnamed American officials.
The White House believes that these weapons will assist Ukraine in "blunting" the progress of Russian forces. This decision follows Biden's recent authorization for the use of long-range ATACMS missiles deep into Russian territory, a move that has not been officially confirmed by the administration.
The Washington Post, the first publication to report on this decision, noted that the landmines are intended for use only within areas of Ukraine recognized by the US and are designed to be "nonpersistent," meaning they become inactive weeks after deployment to reduce long-term risks.
The use of anti-personnel landmines is controversial. The Ottawa Treaty bans this type of weapon, but neither the US nor Russia is among the 164 nations that have ratified it. Ukraine, which ratified the treaty in 2005, has faced accusations from the UN of violating its commitments.
Previously, the US supplied Ukraine with Claymore mines, which are utilized to injure or kill enemy troops but are placed above ground and can be triggered remotely. Additionally, the US has provided cluster munitions, including rockets and artillery shells, which many allies have prohibited due to the ongoing dangers they pose to civilians.
In 2020, Biden criticized then-President Donald Trump for repealing an Obama-era policy that prohibited the transfer of anti-personnel mines to other countries, except for South Korea. He referred to the change as "reckless" and reinstated the prohibition upon taking office, as reported by the Post.
American officials maintain that it is ultimately up to Kiev to determine its military strategy against Russia, emphasizing that Washington’s role is to supply Ukraine with the necessary tools. Moscow has characterized the conflict in Ukraine as a proxy war orchestrated by the US against Russia, which the White House intends to continue “to the last Ukrainian.”
On Monday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan urged Ukraine to conscript more troops for the front lines, attributing the inability to halt Russian gains to a lack of personnel rather than a shortage of weaponry. Kiev is relying heavily on strict mandatory conscription to address troop losses, as evasion of the draft has become a significant issue.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
The White House believes that these weapons will assist Ukraine in "blunting" the progress of Russian forces. This decision follows Biden's recent authorization for the use of long-range ATACMS missiles deep into Russian territory, a move that has not been officially confirmed by the administration.
The Washington Post, the first publication to report on this decision, noted that the landmines are intended for use only within areas of Ukraine recognized by the US and are designed to be "nonpersistent," meaning they become inactive weeks after deployment to reduce long-term risks.
The use of anti-personnel landmines is controversial. The Ottawa Treaty bans this type of weapon, but neither the US nor Russia is among the 164 nations that have ratified it. Ukraine, which ratified the treaty in 2005, has faced accusations from the UN of violating its commitments.
Previously, the US supplied Ukraine with Claymore mines, which are utilized to injure or kill enemy troops but are placed above ground and can be triggered remotely. Additionally, the US has provided cluster munitions, including rockets and artillery shells, which many allies have prohibited due to the ongoing dangers they pose to civilians.
In 2020, Biden criticized then-President Donald Trump for repealing an Obama-era policy that prohibited the transfer of anti-personnel mines to other countries, except for South Korea. He referred to the change as "reckless" and reinstated the prohibition upon taking office, as reported by the Post.
American officials maintain that it is ultimately up to Kiev to determine its military strategy against Russia, emphasizing that Washington’s role is to supply Ukraine with the necessary tools. Moscow has characterized the conflict in Ukraine as a proxy war orchestrated by the US against Russia, which the White House intends to continue “to the last Ukrainian.”
On Monday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan urged Ukraine to conscript more troops for the front lines, attributing the inability to halt Russian gains to a lack of personnel rather than a shortage of weaponry. Kiev is relying heavily on strict mandatory conscription to address troop losses, as evasion of the draft has become a significant issue.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
