Biden permits the use of US military 'contractors' in Ukraine, reports say
US President Joe Biden has authorized the deployment of American defense contractors to Ukraine, according to statements from Pentagon officials to the media. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Companies bidding for defense contracts will reportedly be responsible for the risks faced by their employees.
The administration of outgoing President Joe Biden has removed a de facto ban on deploying US defense contractors in Ukraine to repair American-made equipment, as reported by Reuters and CNN on Friday, citing anonymous Pentagon officials.
This shift in US policy arrives as vocal skeptic of the Ukraine conflict, Donald Trump, wins the popular vote and prepares for his second term in the White House. Although it remains uncertain whether Trump would have upheld the previous stance, he has consistently assured that he would not jeopardize American lives and aims to swiftly conclude the conflict upon taking office.
The expected American presence will be described as “small” and situated “far” from the front lines, with no expectation that they will engage in combat, according to an anonymous US official cited by Reuters. The increasing sophistication of the military aid being sent to Kiev, including systems like F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems, has highlighted the difficulties in conducting timely repairs. Many pieces of equipment have been rendered beyond repair by local specialists.
This policy adjustment brings the Pentagon's approach more in line with the US State Department and USAID, both of which already employ contractors in Ukraine, according to another official.
“These contractors will help the Ukrainian Armed Forces rapidly repair and maintain US-provided equipment as needed so it can quickly return to the front lines,” CNN reported on Friday, referencing a defense official. They specifically mentioned the specialized maintenance requirements for F-16 jets and Patriot batteries.
Enabling US contractors to operate in Ukraine offers a more efficient alternative to the current practice of sending equipment to NATO countries like Poland and Romania for repairs, CNN noted.
At the same time, the companies competing for Pentagon contracts will bear the risks associated with potential Russian strikes.
“Each US contractor, organization, or company will be responsible for the safety and security of their employees and will be required to include risk mitigation plans as part of their bids,” CNN cited a defense official as indicating.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously noted that Moscow is aware of the “direct involvement of NATO troops in this conflict,” citing that several advanced systems provided by the US and its allies—such as ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles—require Western personnel for their operation.
The Russian Defense Ministry regularly reports on airstrikes targeting repair facilities in Ukraine. According to their latest report on Friday, Russian military operations conducted at least 38 strikes against Kiev’s military-industrial capabilities and related infrastructure within a single week.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
The administration of outgoing President Joe Biden has removed a de facto ban on deploying US defense contractors in Ukraine to repair American-made equipment, as reported by Reuters and CNN on Friday, citing anonymous Pentagon officials.
This shift in US policy arrives as vocal skeptic of the Ukraine conflict, Donald Trump, wins the popular vote and prepares for his second term in the White House. Although it remains uncertain whether Trump would have upheld the previous stance, he has consistently assured that he would not jeopardize American lives and aims to swiftly conclude the conflict upon taking office.
The expected American presence will be described as “small” and situated “far” from the front lines, with no expectation that they will engage in combat, according to an anonymous US official cited by Reuters. The increasing sophistication of the military aid being sent to Kiev, including systems like F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems, has highlighted the difficulties in conducting timely repairs. Many pieces of equipment have been rendered beyond repair by local specialists.
This policy adjustment brings the Pentagon's approach more in line with the US State Department and USAID, both of which already employ contractors in Ukraine, according to another official.
“These contractors will help the Ukrainian Armed Forces rapidly repair and maintain US-provided equipment as needed so it can quickly return to the front lines,” CNN reported on Friday, referencing a defense official. They specifically mentioned the specialized maintenance requirements for F-16 jets and Patriot batteries.
Enabling US contractors to operate in Ukraine offers a more efficient alternative to the current practice of sending equipment to NATO countries like Poland and Romania for repairs, CNN noted.
At the same time, the companies competing for Pentagon contracts will bear the risks associated with potential Russian strikes.
“Each US contractor, organization, or company will be responsible for the safety and security of their employees and will be required to include risk mitigation plans as part of their bids,” CNN cited a defense official as indicating.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously noted that Moscow is aware of the “direct involvement of NATO troops in this conflict,” citing that several advanced systems provided by the US and its allies—such as ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles—require Western personnel for their operation.
The Russian Defense Ministry regularly reports on airstrikes targeting repair facilities in Ukraine. According to their latest report on Friday, Russian military operations conducted at least 38 strikes against Kiev’s military-industrial capabilities and related infrastructure within a single week.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
