Ukrainian forces continued their campaign to retake Russian-controlled areas in the southeast of the country, and President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country's forces had "taken the initiative" after an earlier slowdown.

 

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Edited by| Christian Megan

 

Politic section -  CJ journalist

Ukraine conflict news section      

 

Washington – July,10,2023

 

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Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliyar said on the Telegram application that heavy fighting broke out in two areas in the Southeast, writing "We are consolidating our gains in those areas," and said that Russian troops were defending Bakhmut, while Ukrainian troops recorded "progress" on the southern side of the city.

The American television station "ABC" interviewed Zelensky before the NATO summit, this week in Lithuania, Zelensky admitted that the progress was slower than he and the army generals wanted, but he said that it was the Ukrainian troops who took the initiative, he said, "We all want to do it faster because every day means new losses for the Ukrainians. We're moving forward. We are not stuck, "he said, noting that the army had overcome" some stagnation " in previous months.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its troops had repelled the Ukrainian advance near Bakhmut, as the fighting had become difficult "not only because of the intensity of fire and daily battles, but also because of the terrain".

At this time, US Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Barbara Lee of the Democratic Party raised concerns about the decision of the administration of President Joe Biden to send cluster bombs to Ukraine to counter the Russian attack.

The United States announced on Friday that it will supply Kiev with the widely banned bombs as part of a new security assistance package worth 800 million dollars, raising the total US military assistance to more than 40 billion dollars since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in February 2022. Rights groups and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have questioned the correctness of Washington's decision on the munitions.

Cain said he had "some real misgivings" about the US decision because it could lead other countries to violate the convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use of such weapons.

On Ukraine's use of these bombs, Cain told Fox News, "they will not use these munitions against Russian civilians". Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Kiev had provided assurances referred to by the White House on Friday.

More than 100 countries ban cluster munitions. Neither Russia, Ukraine nor the United States have signed the convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production, storage, use and transfer of these weapons. They usually release large numbers of small bombs that can kill people indiscriminately over a wide area. Those that do not explode pose a danger for decades after the end of the conflict.

For her part, Lee urged the Biden administration to reconsider this decision. She told CNN, " cluster bombs should never be used . This is crossing the line". She added that the United States risks losing its "moral leadership" by sending cluster bombs to Ukraine.

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby defended the decision, saying the United States was heavily focused on demining efforts in Ukraine. Kirby added in an interview with ABC's "this week" program, "we are well aware of the concerns about civilian casualties and civilians or children picking up unexploded ordnance and exposing them to harm. "But these munitions do offer a useful capability on the battlefield,"he said. He added that Russia is using cluster munitions in Ukraine and"indiscriminately killing civilians," while Ukrainians will use them to defend their territory.

Republican Michael McCaul, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives, said that the counterattack launched by Kiev is proceeding slowly, and cluster bombs could be a game changer for the Ukrainians. "I'm really glad that the administration has finally agreed to do this," McCall continued in a statement to CNN.

 

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