The US has for the first time allowed military contractors to deploy to Ukraine.

In the final months of his term, President Joe Biden's administration decided to allow American 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 offer contracts to American companies to work inside Ukraine for the first time since Russia launched its military campaign in 2022.

U.S. officials said they hope this will expedite the maintenance and repair of U.S. weapons systems currently used by the Ukrainian military.

"To help Ukraine repair and maintain military equipment supplied by the U.S. and its allies, the Pentagon is inviting a select few contractors to maintain U.S. support in Ukraine. They are far from the front lines and not fighting Russian forces. They help the Ukrainian military quickly repair and maintain U.S.-supplied equipment," a U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

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

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022, the U.S. has provided Kyiv with tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons. However, Ukraine has had to ship the U.S.-supplied weapons abroad for repair, or rely on online exchanges and other innovative solutions for domestic repairs.

This slowed down the repair process and became increasingly difficult as the US supplied Kyiv with advanced equipment, such as F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems.

Another U.S. official revealed that much of the equipment in Ukraine was not being used because it was damaged.

Allowing American military contractors to deploy to Ukraine is seen as the latest move by the Biden administration to ease restrictions, aimed at helping Kyiv defend itself in the two-and-a-half-year conflict without directly engaging in combat with Russia.

It is unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump will maintain this policy when he takes office in January 2025. Trump has previously stated he would end the Russia-Ukraine conflict "within 24 hours" of his re-election.

U.S. support has been crucial in helping Ukraine fight against the much stronger and better-equipped Russian forces. The Russian military currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory and is increasing pressure on Kyiv.

Ukraine is calling on the West to lift restrictions on the use of deep-strike missiles against Russia, which Kyiv argues are necessary to deter Russian long-range attacks. However, the Biden administration has yet to announce any changes to that policy.

US officials believe that easing arms control may not be enough to change the course of the war, while Moscow warns that it will only escalate the conflict.

Flower Dance (Source: Reuters, CNN)

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