The transfer of cluster bombs to Ukraine will immediately improve Kyiv's firepower and help it punch through Russian defensive lines. The prospects of Ukraine's counteroffensive now look far more successful and Moscow is more likely to be pushed to the negotiation table. Kyiv is committed to using American weapons to destroy the Russian invaders and save Ukrainian lives.
Ukraine is in an existential fight for survival and deserves access to weaponry. However, sending cluster bombs to Kyiv when what Ukraine really needs is long-range precision missiles is senseless. Moreover, while cluster bombs could bring Kyiv a temporary battlefield advantage, they will inflict devastating damage to civilians — particularly if fired at densely populated areas — and remain a serious threat for years following the conflict.
Sending cluster munitions to Ukraine is an act of desperation that shows the failure of the Ukrainian military's attempts to carry out an offensive against Russia. In addition, by sending more sophisticated weapons to Ukraine, the US is escalating tensions with Moscow, despite the latter holding a superior arsenal that is more than able to quash Ukraine's military capability.