After months of relying solely on video calls and repairs across borders, Ukraine will now host US contractors to service the growing arsenal of sophisticated Western arms.
The outgoing Biden Administration has authorized US defense contractors, including F-16 jets, to maintain and repair weapons systems supplied by the Pentagon in Ukraine. This includes Patriot missile systems and F-16 jets. This marks a significant change in US support policy.
The US has provided Ukraine tens and tens billions of dollars in military aid, but maintenance of this equipment required moving systems outside the country or relying upon remote assistance. The new policy is designed to reduce the number of damaged and unused equipment, and streamline repairs for increasingly sophisticated weapons systems.
US officials, speaking under condition of anonymity, stressed that contractors would:
* Small in number
* Away from combat zones
* Not engaged in combat operation
* Responsible for own safety and risk management
* Operating without US Military Protection
The Pentagon is aligning itself with other US agencies such as the State Department and USAID who already have contractors in Ukraine. Officials noted that this change would not increase significantly the US civilian presence given the presence of American companies under Ukrainian government contracts.
This policy shift occurs at a crucial time, as Russian forces are advancing at their fastest rate since early 2022 and Ukraine has launched its largest incursion into Russian soil. While President-elect Trump has promised to end the conflict quickly and questioned the US support for Kyiv without specifying the details, he has also pledged to stop the war as soon as possible. The Biden administration has remained steadfast in its refusal to allow Ukraine to use US-provided weapons as part of deep strikes against Russia, despite Kyiv’s requests.
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