US Weapons Supply to Ukraine Would Violate International Law: Ombudsman

There is strong evidence that the Ukrainian security forces have used and are using prohibited weapons, including cluster munitions, Russian Foreign Ministry's human rights ombudsman said.

MOSCOW, November 24 (Sputnik) — The supply of weaponry by the United States to Ukraine would be a serious violation of international law, Russian Foreign Ministry's human rights ombudsman Konstantin Dolgov stated Monday.

"We have all seen how several battalion commanders, who now sit in the Verkhovna Rada [Ukraine’s parliament], are… in Washington asking for weapons, asking for support. Of course, if such support is provided, it will be a serious violation of international law," Dolgov said at Russia’s Civic Chamber session.

The ombudsman added that there is strong evidence that the Ukrainian security forces have used and are using prohibited weapons, including cluster munitions. "International human rights activists, in particular, Human Rights Watch, have started to write more about it in their reports, sometimes they name the perpetrators, sometimes they are sheepishly silent," he said.

In September, Ukraine requested lethal aid from the United States. Following the request, the US Senate’s international committee approved a bill to allocate $350 million of military aid to Ukraine in 2015, including anti-tank weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, and to grant it the status of "the main US ally outside NATO." However, the bill has not been adopted yet.

The United States is providing non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine, but says it has not made a decision on the possible supply of weapons to Ukraine. The United States previously provided 300,000 sets of dry rations to the Ukrainian military and has supplied barbed wire and binoculars to the country, having later decided to allocate $7 million for tents, heaters and other equipment.