The United States is considering providing cluster munitions to Ukraine, according to Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley stated that the U.S. has been contemplating this for a while, as Russian troops are currently using cluster bombs on the battlefield in Ukraine. He noted that Ukrainian forces have already received cluster bombs from other allies and have used them. Milley confirmed that discussions on this matter are ongoing, as the Ukrainians have requested it and other European countries have already provided some. He also addressed concerns about the speed of Ukraine’s counteroffensive, stating that it is expected to be long and difficult. Cluster bombs release submunitions, or “bomblets,” in the air that target multiple areas at once, but they also have a high rate of failure to explode. Critics argue that cluster bombs are indiscriminate weapons that pose risks to civilians even long after their use. The U.S. providing cluster bombs to Ukraine may be divisive among America’s NATO allies, as many are signatories of a convention banning cluster munitions. Nevertheless, the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine are not signatories to this ban. The debate on providing Ukraine with cluster munitions comes amid concerns about the slow pace of the anticipated counteroffensive. While most officials won’t publicly criticize its speed, there is a sentiment among allies that Ukraine needs to take advantage of favorable weather and conditions on the ground to advance. Despite months of training and equipping Ukrainian forces, many of them have yet to engage in combat.