US allows military contractors to deploy to Ukraine for first time

In the final months of his term, the Biden administration decided to allow US defense contractors to work in Ukraine to maintain and repair US-supplied weapons.

The new policy, approved earlier this month ahead of the election, allows the Pentagon to award contracts to US companies to work inside Ukraine for the first time since Russia launched its military campaign in 2022.

US officials said they hoped this would speed up maintenance and repair of US weapons systems used by the Ukrainian military.

"To help Ukraine repair and maintain military equipment provided by the United States and its allies, the Pentagon is inviting a small number of contractors to maintain US support in Ukraine. They are far from the front lines and do not fight Russian forces. They help the Ukrainian military quickly repair and maintain US-supplied equipment," said an unnamed US defense official.

Two Ukrainian military mechanics repair a damaged MT-LB armored vehicle in the Donetsk region of Kharkiv, Ukraine, October 25. (Photo: Getty Images)

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022, the United States has provided Kiev with tens of billions of dollars in weapons. However, Ukraine has had to ship US-supplied weapons abroad for repair, or rely on online exchanges and other creative solutions to repair them at home.

This slows down repairs and is made more difficult by the US providing Kiev with advanced equipment, such as F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems.

Another US official revealed that a lot of equipment in Ukraine is not used because it is damaged.

Allowing US military contractors to deploy to Ukraine is seen as the latest loosening of restrictions by the Biden administration, aimed at helping Kiev defend itself in the 2-1/2-year conflict without directly engaging Russia.

It is unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump will maintain this policy when he takes office in January 2025. Mr Trump has vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict “within 24 hours” of his re-election.

US support has been crucial in helping Ukraine fend off much stronger and better-equipped Russian forces, which now control about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory and are increasing pressure on Kiev.

Ukraine has called on the West to lift restrictions on using missiles to strike deep into Russia, which Kiev says is necessary to deter long-range Russian attacks. However, the Biden administration has yet to announce any changes to that policy.

US officials have said loosening the arms control regime may not be enough to change the course of the war, while Moscow has warned that it would escalate the conflict.

Hua Yu (Source: Reuters, CNN)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/my-lan-dau-cho-phep-cac-nha-thau-quan-su-trien-khai-toi-ukraine-ar906376.html