US maintains that it will not fight Russians in Ukraine: White House

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 Jul 2023 20:02

NSA Jake Sullivan said that the US "moral authority" is not affected by the supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine as both Russia and the US are not signatories of the treaty banning the use of the weapons.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing at the White House on July 7, 2023, in Washington. (AP)

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the US maintains its position that it will not send troops to fight against the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.

"Basic US position in this comes down to single clear point, which is: we are going to support Ukraine without having US boots on the ground and American soldiers fighting Russian soldiers and that will remain consistent throughout the course of this conflict," Sullivan told the NBC News broadcaster on Sunday.

He added that it is not in the interest of the US to "end up in World War 3 with Russia."

On Cluster bombs

Sullivan further said that the US "moral authority" is not affected by the supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine as both Russia and the US are not signatories of the treaty banning the use of the weapons.

Moreover, the US is helping Ukraine defend itself; therefore, the US moral authority is not affected by the decision.

"Our moral authority is not derived from being a signatory to the convention against cluster munitions. We have not banned at any point since that convention came into effect, and neither has Ukraine. Our moral authority and Ukraine's moral authority in this conflict comes from the fact that we are supporting a country under brutal, vicious attack by its neighbor.... and the idea that providing Ukraine with a weapon in order for them to be able to defend their homeland, protect their civilians is somehow a challenge to our moral authority I find questionable," Sullivan told NBC news broadcaster on Sunday.

The US latest military logistics package to Ukraine, which was unveiled last week, includes cluster munition.

On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia's military will be forced to use similar weapons against Kiev's forces if the US supplies cluster bombs.

Under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the weapon is banned in 123 countries. Among those who did not sign the convention include the US, Ukraine, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, "Israel" and South Korea.

On July 13, Brigadier General Aleksandr Tarnavsky told CNN that Washington has already sent the cluster munitions promised to Kiev, reaffirming that the weapons are now with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The US also confirmed this information.

Tarnavsky said "We just got them, we haven’t used them yet, but they can radically change [the battlefield]," adding that the cluster munitions, according to his claims, could assist Ukrainian Forces in pushing Russia away from their lines of defense.

In turn, Joint Staff Director for Operations Lt. General Douglas A. Sims confirmed during a press briefing that "There are cluster munitions in Ukraine at this time," revealing that even prior to the US delivery, there had been cluster munitions available in Ukraine provided by third-party countries.