Steinmeier said that the German government's position against cluster munitions remains justified, but the United States' decision must be taken into account.
"But in the current situation, [the government] cannot block the US," Steinmeier told Germany's ZDF broadcaster.
On Friday, the US unveiled a new military assistance package for Ukraine that includes cluster munitions. The weapons are banned by the international convention, which has been ratified by 123 countries, excluding the US and Ukraine.