By [Your Name] | June 26, 2024

In a significant shift in U.S. policy, the Biden administration is moving toward lifting a de facto ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine. This decision aims to bolster the Ukrainian military’s ability to maintain and repair U.S.-provided weapons systems, four U.S. officials familiar with the matter told CNN.

The policy change, still under review and pending final approval from President Joe Biden, marks a notable escalation in the U.S. effort to provide Ukraine with a strategic advantage against Russian forces. “We have not made any decisions and any discussion of this is premature,” stated one administration official, underscoring that President Biden remains firm in his commitment not to send U.S. troops to Ukraine.

If approved, the new policy would be enacted later this year, allowing the Pentagon to contract American companies for in-country work for the first time since Russia’s invasion in 2022. The move is intended to accelerate the maintenance and repair of critical weapons systems, currently hindered by the necessity of transporting damaged equipment to neighboring NATO countries for service.

The Biden administration has been keen to keep American personnel, particularly troops, away from the Ukrainian frontlines to minimize risks and avoid the perception of direct U.S. military involvement. The State Department has consistently advised Americans against traveling to Ukraine since the conflict began.

Currently, U.S.-provided military equipment that sustains damage in combat must be sent to Poland, Romania, or other nearby NATO countries for repairs, a process that significantly delays the return of these vital systems to the battlefield. U.S. troops support Ukrainian forces with routine maintenance and logistics remotely, through video calls and secure phone lines—methods that come with inherent limitations.

Officials began reconsidering these restrictions in recent months as Russia made gains on the battlefield and U.S. funding for Ukraine stalled in Congress. Allowing experienced, U.S. government-funded contractors to operate in Ukraine is expected to enable faster repairs of high-value equipment, such as the F-16 fighter jets Ukraine is slated to receive later this year.

Companies bidding for these contracts will be required to develop comprehensive risk mitigation plans to protect their employees. This initiative follows a series of recent U.S. decisions aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities. In late May, President Biden granted Ukraine permission to strike targets inside Russia near the border with Ukrainian weapons, a significant policy shift. Last week, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced that Ukraine could counterstrike anywhere along the Ukraine-Russia border using U.S. weapons.

Experts believe the contractor presence in Ukraine will be limited compared to past U.S. engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, likely involving only a few dozen to a couple of hundred contractors. “This would be a much more focused and thoughtful effort to support Ukraine in-country,” said retired Army officer Alex Vindman, a former director for European Affairs on President Trump’s National Security Council, who has advocated for lifting the restrictions for nearly two years.

“Ukraine is an ally,” Vindman emphasized. “The U.S. has keen, critical national security interests in supporting Ukraine, and there are plenty of risk mitigation measures.”

As the Biden administration continues to refine this policy, it represents a careful balancing act between providing effective support to Ukraine and managing the potential risks of deeper involvement in the conflict. The decision underscores the ongoing commitment of the U.S. to assist Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression while navigating the complex dynamics of international military aid.