Biden-Harris admin approves landmines for use in Ukraine

After authorizing the use of long-range, American-made ATACMS missiles to take out targets in Russia, the Biden-Harris administration has authorized land mines for use in Ukraine. These antipersonnel mines are intended to aid Ukraine in their defense against attacker Russia, but there has been substantial criticism levied as a result.

The Ottawa Convention, an international treaty against the use of landmines, has been signed by 164 countries. Mines deployed in Vietnam and other areas have remained active for decades after the end of a conflict, rendering the land unusable. Ukraine wanted them anyway in an effort to fend off Russia, which invaded their neighbor in February 2022.

In reaction to the authorization of US ATACMS missiles, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that retaliations against Ukraine and the US could be forthcoming as a result. The Biden-Harris administration has been backing Ukraine since the beginning of hostilities and has spent billions in both aid and weapons. Russia is widely perceived to be winning the conflict.

During his time overseeing the war in Ukraine, Biden has promised that the US would not send F-16 fighter jets, Abrams Tanks, long-range missiles like ATACMS, cluster bombs or Claymores, or put US forces in Ukraine. All of these promises have since been broken. 

The Washington Post spoke to officials within the Biden-Harris administration on condition of anonymity, who said that the mines were "nonpersistent," meaning that they will self-destruct or lose-battery charge and stop working "within days or weeks" of their deployment. The officials also assured the Post that Ukraine promised not to put the mines in "densely populated areas."

"Russia uses them anyway," one official told the Post. The US mines have not been used since the Gulf War in 1991. The Biden administration said the US would support "mine-clearance efforts" at the end of the war, but Biden will not be in charge once it is over.

Biden leaves office in mid-January and will be replaced by Donald Trump, who won the presidential election. He campaigned on a promise to end the war in Ukraine within days of taking office. Biden has not seen fit to bring the war to a close with peace talks or the like, instead funneling money and weapons into the nation. Biden and Harris have also both spoken about a pathway for Ukraine's entry into NATO.