US could decide this week whether to send cluster munitions to Ukraine

The US could make a decision on whether to approve the delivery of controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine as soon as this week, US officials told CBS News on Wednesday, Report informs.

Cluster munitions carry dozens of smaller bomblets that disperse when detonated and have been banned by more than 100 countries because unexploded bomblets can pose a risk to civilians for years after the fighting is over.

The US is considering approving Ukraine's long-standing ask for cluster munitions to address its high demand for ammunition in the counteroffensive against Russian forces, which is proceeding more slowly than expected. A single cluster munition generally dispenses bomblets that can cover five times as much area as conventional munitions, according to a US official.