The United States will authorize its military companies to deploy in Ukraine, a first since the start of the war

The Biden administration has lifted the de facto ban on U.S. military companies deploying to Ukraine to help the kyiv regime’s military maintain and repair U.S.-supplied weapons systems, particularly F16 fighter jets and Patriot air defense systems, an official with direct knowledge of the plan told CNN. The information was picked up by Reuters.

The new policy, approved earlier this month ahead of the Nov. 5 election, would allow the Pentagon to award contracts to U.S. companies for projects and missions in Ukraine for the first time since Ukraine’s invasion. Russia in 2022. Officials said they hope to speed up maintenance and repairs of weapons systems used by the Ukrainian military.

It is unclear whether Donald Trump will maintain this policy when he takes office in January. Elected against Kamala Harris, Mr. Trump declared that he hoped to “end the war between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours” of coming to power.

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“To help Ukraine repair and maintain military equipment supplied by the United States and its allies, the Department of Defense is soliciting proposals for a small number of contractors who will help Ukraine repair maintain the assistance we have already provided,” a defense official said. “These contractors will be located far from the front lines and will not fight Russian forces. They will help the Ukrainian Armed Forces quickly repair and maintain U.S.-supplied equipment as needed so that it can be quickly returned to the front lines.”

The move marks another significant shift in the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy, with the United States seeking to give Ukraine’s military an advantage over Russia, CNN points out. The Pentagon should soon begin listing contracts online, the official added.