The Pentagon’s action shows that Biden is open to sending Americans to Ukraine to help Zelensky’s forces
- Since the Russian invasion, American contractors have not been allowed into Ukraine
- But that could change this year, allowing them to repair weapons
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The Biden administration is considering lifting a long-standing ban on the deployment of U.S. military contractors to Ukraine, according to four officials.
It would mark a huge change in Pentagon policy as it looks to help Ukrainian forces gain the upper hand after two years of fighting Russia.
President Joe Biden has repeatedly opposed any move that could risk escalating the war, but officials are reportedly exploring the idea that contractors could enter the war-torn country to help maintain and repair U.S. weapon systems.
“We have not made any decision and any discussion about this is premature,” an administration official told CNN.
“The president is absolutely certain he will not send American troops to Ukraine.”
Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire on Russian positions from a US-supplied M777 howitzer in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine. Currently, severely damaged weapons systems must be shipped out of Ukraine if they are to be repaired by U.S. contractors
The policy is still being drafted and has yet to reach Biden.
If approved, the change could take effect this year, officials added, allowing U.S. companies to win Defense Department contracts for work in Ukraine for the first time since the Russian invasion.
In the meantime, US-supplied equipment must be taken out of the country for repairs if it has suffered heavy damage.
US personnel are available to assist with advice and logistics, but only via video link.
But with Russia making gains this year, government officials have begun to reconsider the restrictions.
Matters will only become more urgent when Ukraine takes delivery of F-16 jets later this year, a highly complex system that will never be regularly maintained by highly qualified personnel.
It would mean that several dozen to a few hundred contractors would be deployed in the country.
“This would be a much more targeted and thoughtful effort to support Ukraine domestically,” retired Army officer Alex Vindman, who served as European Affairs director on the National Security Council under Donald Trump, told CNN.
Biden has often opposed greater U.S. involvement, but later changed his mind.
President Biden has often opposed greater US involvement, but later changed his mind
F-16s are expected next month, increasing the need for U.S. contractors on the ground
For example, after the administration rejected requests from Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to attack inside Russia, it changed course last month. She gave the green light to attack across the border near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Last week, the green light was extended to everywhere along the border.
The delays have frustrated Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky.
One of his officials said the F-16s were no longer relevant.
“Often we don’t get the weapons systems when we need them – they come when they are no longer relevant,” the senior officer told Politico.
‘Every weapon has its own right moment. F-16s were needed by 2023; they won’t be good until 2024.”