US Rejects Proposal to Send Contractors to Ukraine

The Biden administration has declined to send American contractors to Ukraine for the maintenance of F-16 fighter jets due to security concerns, particularly fears of Russian attacks on U.S. personnel. Despite ongoing discussions about the potential for U.S. civilian support, intelligence assessments deemed the risks too high at this time. The U.S. hopes European countries will take on the maintenance responsibilities for the aircraft. This decision comes in light of Ukraine's recent loss of its first F-16, though the Pentagon has stated it has not received any requests for assistance regarding this incident. Officials noted that the complexities of combat aviation and operational security prevent them from disclosing further details about the F-16 situation in Ukraine. Overall, while the U.S. has not ruled out future contractor support, immediate deployment remains unlikely.