Biden Approves Sending Anti-Personnel Mines to Ukraine

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Facts

  • In another policy reversal to have taken place in the last weeks of his presidency, US Pres. Joe Biden has approved the provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, US officials briefed a number of publications on Tuesday.[1][2]
  • The move follows the decision earlier this week to allow Ukraine to use long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, on Russia's Kursk region — previously rejected over fears of drawing the US into the conflict with Russia, as well as American stockpile concerns.[3]
  • According to US officials who spoke to the Washington Post, which first reported the development on anti-personnel mines, the decision was taken to stymie Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.[4][5]
  • While the use of such mines has long been criticized by human rights campaigners — as they can kill indiscriminately and remain active for long periods — US officials said only 'non-persistent' mines will be provided to Ukraine, meaning they'll become inactive after shorter periods.[1]
  • The US has also received assurances that mines will not be used near densely populated areas and will only be used for defensive purposes in Ukraine, not any offensive capability in Russian territory, the officials said.[6][1]
  • Separately, US officials said on Tuesday that the Pentagon will send Ukraine an additional $275M in military aid, as the Biden administration continues to try to pour in as much support as possible before Pres.-elect Donald Trump's coming administration.[7]
  • Meanwhile, the US embassy in Kyiv said it had received information of 'a potential significant air attack' on Wednesday. 'Out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place,' a statement said.[8]

Sources: [1]CNN, [2]CBS, [3]Verity, [4]Washington Post, [5]New York Post, [6]BBC News, [7]Associated Press and [8]Usembassy.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by CBS. Unlike those mines that Russia has indiscriminately spread across Ukraine to devastating effect, the mines provided by the US for Ukraine's use will be 'non-persistent,' and will help them better protect their sovereign territory from Russian aggression.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by New York Post. By his own admission, Biden has said the use of mines is reckless as they often harm civilians to a much greater extent than any military impact. Biden seems to have no problem contradicting himself when it comes to policy.

Predictions