Status: 02/18/2023 5:08 p.m
At the Munich Security Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Kubrakov spoke out in favor of Ukraine being allowed to use controversial weapons, including cluster munitions. Their use is prohibited under international law.
At the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olexander Kubrakov called for the use of cluster munitions and phosphorus firearms on his own territory. Russia is already using such weapons against Ukrainians.
Kubrakow said he understands that conventions limit its use. However, the US and several other allies would have millions of rounds from it – and one day Ukraine might get such ammunition anyway. By then, however, Ukraine would lose thousands of people.
Eckhart Querner, BR, on Ukraine’s demands for cluster munitions and phosphorus firearms: “In any case, there have been no public reactions here, at least.”
tagesschau24 10:00 a.m., 18.2.2023
Kuleba: No legal obstacles
Cluster munitions are rockets and bombs that burst in mid-air over the target, releasing many small explosive devices. Their use is outlawed under international law. Phosphorus munitions can cause severe burns and poisoning in humans.
According to the dpa news agency, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said there were no legal obstacles preventing Ukraine from using cluster munitions. Ukraine is not a party to the convention banning cluster munitions.
“And if we get them, we will only use them against the armed forces of the Russian Federation,” Kuleba said. Ukraine has evidence that Russia is using cluster munitions.
Sharp rejection in Germany
German politicians reacted to the discussion about cluster munitions and phosphorus weapons with sharp rejection. Just because Ukraine is demanding something doesn’t mean it has to be implemented, said Greens politician Anton Hofreiter to the broadcasters RTL and ntv. “Ukraine demands everything. I think this demand is wrong,” said the chairman of the Europe Committee in the Bundestag. He said yes when asked if a stop sign was necessary at this point.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at the Munich Security Conference that Ukraine was defending its freedom and the European peace order. “We support them in this,” said Baerbock, but added: “We are guided by our European peace order, we are guided by the United Nations Charter, and we are guided by international humanitarian law.”
Request from a European country
According to information from the AFP news agency, an official from a European country said in Washington at the end of January that his country had already decided to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine. Now the country is trying to ask for German approval because Germany is involved in the production. According to the report, the representative wanted to remain anonymous and also did not want to name the country.
According to the report, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economics said the process was known in the Ministry from media reports. “In principle, the federal government does not provide any information about any arms export procedures,” she said. This also applies to re-exports by third countries.
However, such a request would have to be measured against the obligations arising from the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the provisions of the War Weapons Control Act. “This results in a ban on the use, development, manufacture, acquisition, storage, retention and transfer of cluster munitions,” said the ministry spokeswoman.
Note: An earlier version of this article stated that Oleksandr Kubrakov demanded the delivery of cluster munitions and phosphorus incendiary weapons. In fact, Kubrakov had raised the question of why Ukraine could not use such weapons on its own territory.