Outgoing US President Joe Biden has made the decision to supply anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine, as reported by various news organizations on Tuesday, referencing unnamed American officials.

The White House reportedly believes that these weapons will assist Ukraine in “blunting” the progress of Russian forces. This decision follows Biden’s recent authorization for the use of long-range ATACMS missiles within Russian territory, a policy change that has yet to be officially acknowledged by his administration.

The Washington Post, the first to cover this development, indicates that the landmines will be deployed only within areas recognized by the US as Ukrainian territory and are designed to be “nonpersistent,” meaning they will deactivate within weeks of being laid to reduce long-term risks.

The deployment of anti-personnel landmines is contentious. The Ottawa Treaty prohibits such weapons, but neither the US nor Russia is among the 164 countries that have ratified it. Ukraine ratified the treaty in 2005 and has faced accusations from the UN regarding violations of its commitments.

The United States has previously provided Ukraine with Claymore mines, which are intended to incapacitate or kill enemy forces. Unlike traditional landmines, these devices are deployed above ground and can be activated remotely. Additionally, Washington has supplied cluster munitions, such as rockets and artillery shells, which many of its allies have prohibited due to the enduring risks they pose to civilian populations.

In 2020, President Biden criticized then-President Donald Trump for reversing an Obama-era policy that prohibited the transfer of anti-personnel mines to other countries, except for South Korea. He described this decision as “reckless” and reinstated the ban upon taking office, as reported by the Post.

U.S. officials assert that it is ultimately up to Kiev to determine its military strategy against Russia, with Washington’s role being to furnish the necessary resources. Moscow has characterized the conflict in Ukraine as a proxy war orchestrated by the U.S., which it claims is willing to continue “to the last Ukrainian.”

On Monday, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan encouraged Kiev to deploy additional troops to the front lines, suggesting that the lack of personnel, rather than a deficiency in weaponry, is the primary reason for the inability to halt Russian advances. Kiev has resorted to strictly enforced conscription to address troop shortages, as evasion of the draft remains a significant issue.