US statement on the Erdogan-Biden meeting

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan answered questions from reporters at the daily White House press briefing. Stating that they provide military aid to Ukraine according to their needs in the field, Sullivan stressed that Ukraine needs artillery weapons to continue its operations.

Sullivan stated that they “will not leave Ukraine defenseless” and discussed the reasons for delivering cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Sullivan said that Russia has been using cluster bombs to attack Ukraine since the beginning of the war and suggested that the error rates for cluster bombs used by Russia are around 30-40 percent. “In this environment, Ukraine demands cluster munitions to defend its sovereign territory,” Sullivan said. saying.

Sullivan said the error rate for cluster munitions to be supplied by the US will not exceed 2.5 percent.

Noting that they are in close coordination with Ukraine on this issue, Sullivan said: “Ukraine is determined to continue post-conflict clearance efforts to reduce any potential harm to civilians, and this will be necessary regardless of whether the United States provides these ammunition. She used the phrase.

UKRAINE GUARANTEED”

Sullivan stated that they are aware of the risk of cluster munitions harming civilians and have postponed a decision on this issue for as long as they could.

On the other hand, noting the risk of Russia seizing more Ukrainian land, Sullivan noted that Ukraine will use these stockpiles to defend its own land, not land of foreign countries.

Sullivan reported that Ukraine has given assurances in writing that it will use cluster munitions very carefully in a manner that aims to minimize any risk to civilians.

Noting that the US Department of Defense will announce the details of the military aid package, Sullivan said they have been in close consultation with allies on cluster munitions.

Noting that delivering cluster munitions to Ukraine was not an “easy decision,” Sullivan said he decided to move forward on this issue with the advice of US President Joe Biden’s national security team and consultation with allies and members of Congress.

THE ISSUE OF THE ACCESS OF UKRAINE TO NATO

Sullivan stated that Ukraine will not be a member of NATO at the Vilnius summit next week, noting that there are steps Ukraine must take before becoming a member.

ERDOGAN-BIDEN INTERVIEW

Sullivan also stated that a meeting between US President Biden and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected at the Vilnius summit.

HARVESTERS

The Joe Biden administration in the US has been considering giving support to Ukraine for cluster munitions, which have been banned by many countries for a while.

US Department of Defense (Pentagon) spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told a press conference yesterday that variants of cluster munitions with an error rate of less than 2.35 could be supplied to Ukraine. percent.

The use, stockpiling and sale of cluster munitions, which remained a threat for years as remnants of the war, was banned with the contract signed in 2008.

Cluster munitions are opposed due to their indiscriminate use on the target and high miss rates, resulting in civilian deaths.

The United States, Ukraine and Russia are not parties to the agreement.

While most of the 123 countries that are party to the agreement have committed to destroying cluster munitions within their borders within a certain period of time, Canada, France, Germany and Japan have so far destroyed their bomb stockpiles. (AA)