The US unexpectedly allows military contractor into Ukraine.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - The administration of US President Joe Biden reversed a three-year policy by allowing some military contractors to deploy to Ukraine to assist in the maintenance and repair of weapons systems donated by Washington.

The US allows contractors to deploy to Ukraine (Photo: Getty).

"To help Ukraine repair and maintain military equipment supplied by the U.S. and its allies, the Pentagon is inviting a select number of contractors who will help Kyiv maintain technical guarantees," a U.S. defense official confirmed on November 8.

The official added: "These contractors will be far from the front lines and they will not be fighting Russian forces. They will help the Ukrainian Armed Forces quickly repair and maintain US-supplied equipment as needed so that it can be quickly brought back to the front lines."

The new policy, approved earlier this month ahead of the election, will allow the Pentagon to offer contracts to American companies to work in Ukrainian territory for the first time since Russia launched its military operation in the neighboring country.

Defense officials confirmed that the U.S. is pursuing this plan because some of the systems they have supplied to Ukraine, particularly the F-16s and Patriots, "require specific technical expertise to maintain." Washington hopes that this policy will expedite the maintenance and repair of the weapons systems currently used by the Ukrainian military.

This policy marks another significant shift in the direction of President Joe Biden's administration, as the U.S. seeks to help the Ukrainian military gain the upper hand against Russia in the final weeks of Biden's term.

The Pentagon is expected to begin listing contracts online soon. Bidding companies will be required to develop robust risk mitigation plans to prevent threats to their employees.

"The Department made this decision after careful risk assessment and in coordination with stakeholders across sectors. Each U.S. contractor, organization, or company will be responsible for the safety and security of their personnel and will be required to include risk mitigation plans in their bids," a U.S. official said.

It is unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump will maintain this policy when he takes office in January. He has repeatedly stated that he is capable of ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of returning to power.

Over the past two years, President Biden has emphasized that all American citizens, especially the U.S. military, must stay away from the front lines in Ukraine. The White House has been determined to limit the danger to Americans, especially given Russia's perception of U.S. troops fighting in Ukraine. The U.S. State Department has clearly warned American citizens against traveling to Ukraine since 2022.

Therefore, military equipment supplied by the US that is severely damaged in combat must be transported out of Ukraine to Poland, Romania, or other NATO countries for repair, a process that takes a long time.

The U.S. military is also willing to assist Ukraine with more regular maintenance and logistics, but only remotely via secure video calls or phone calls – an agreement with inherent limitations, as U.S. troops and contractors cannot work directly with the weapons systems.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/my-bat-ngo-cho-phep-nha-thau-quan-su-den-ukraine-20241109134829514.htm