US President Joe Biden told CNN on Friday that it was a “difficult decision” to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions for the first time, but he was ultimately persuaded to send the controversial weapon "because Kyiv needs ammunition in its counteroffensive against Russia."

On Friday, the White House announced that the president approved the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine.

“It was a very difficult decision on my part. And by the way, I discussed this with our allies, I discussed this with our friends up on the Hill,” Biden said, adding, “The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition.”

The President said that the cluster munitions were sent as a "transition period" before the US can produce more 155-millimeter howitzers.