Biden Approves Sending Anti-Personnel Mines to Ukraine
The Facts
In another policy reversal 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.
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.
The Spin
Unlike the 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 they will help them better protect their sovereign territory from Russian aggression.
By his own admission, Biden said the use of mines are reckless as they often harm civilians to a much greater effect than any military impact. However, Biden seems to have no problem contradicting himself when it comes to policy.
