In a significant policy change, President Joe Biden's administration has authorized US defense contractors to repair and maintain US-supplied weapons in Ukraine, officials announced.

This move is intended to speed up the repair process for military equipment provided to Ukraine as it continues to fend off Russian advances.

Previously, Ukrainian forces either transported damaged equipment out of Ukraine for repairs or used remote solutions, which proved challenging, especially with advanced systems like F-16 jets and Patriot air defenses.

Contractors will operate away from combat zones and will not engage directly in fighting.

The change aligns the Pentagon with the US State Department and USAID, both of which already have contractors operating in Ukraine.

While some US contractors have previously serviced non-Pentagon equipment in Ukraine, this decision will permit more extensive on-site involvement.

The timing is critical as Russian forces advance and Ukraine makes incursions into Russian territory.

However, with Biden's term nearing its end and President-elect Donald Trump's differing stance on US support, the future sustainability of this policy is uncertain.

US support remains crucial for Ukraine against a larger Russian military force, and Ukraine continues to call for the ability to strike deeper into Russia to counter long-range attacks.