The Biden administration is considering a significant shift in its Ukraine policy, with US officials indicating that a long-standing ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine may be lifted.
According to four US officials, the move would allow the Pentagon to provide contracts to American companies for work inside Ukraine, marking a departure from the administration's previous stance of keeping all Americans, including troops, away from the Ukrainian frontlines.
The policy change is still being drafted and has not yet received final approval from President Joe Biden. "We have not made any decisions and any discussion of this is premature," said one administration official.
The potential shift comes as the US looks for ways to speed up the maintenance and repairs of weapons systems being used by the Ukrainian military to fend off Russia's invasion. Over the past two years, the White House has steadfastly insisted that Americans, particularly US troops, stay away from the Ukrainian conflict zone.
If approved, the change would likely be implemented this year, allowing American military contractors to deploy to Ukraine for the first time since the Russian invasion in 2022. However, the president remains firm in his stance that US troops will not be sent to Ukraine.
"We have not made any decisions and any discussion of this is premature," said one official. "The president is absolutely firm that he will not be sending US troops to Ukraine."
If approved, the change would likely occur this year and allow the Pentagon to provide contracts to American companies for work inside Ukraine for the first time since Russia's 2022 invasion. Officials hope this will expedite maintenance and repairs of Ukrainian military equipment.
Over the past two years, Biden has insisted that Americans, especially troops, stay away from the Ukrainian frontlines. The White House wants to limit the danger to Americans and avoid the perception that the US military is engaged in combat there. The State Department has warned Americans against traveling to Ukraine since 2022.
As a result, damaged US-provided equipment has had to be transported out of Ukraine for repairs, a time-consuming process. US troops can assist Ukrainians remotely, but cannot work directly on the systems.
Administration officials have reconsidered these restrictions in recent months as Russia makes gains and US funding for Ukraine stalls in Congress. Allowing American contractors in Ukraine could enable faster repairs of high-value equipment like the F-16 fighter jets Ukraine is set to receive.
Companies bidding for contracts would need robust risk mitigation plans for their employees. The policy change is not expected to result in the large American contractor presence seen in Iraq and Afghanistan, but rather dozens to a couple hundred contractors at a time.
"This would be a much more focused and thoughtful effort to support Ukraine in the country," said retired Army officer Alex Vindman, who has pushed the administration to lift the restrictions.
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