US urges Ukraine to lower draft age to 18 - Reuters
Illustrative photo: The US urges Ukraine to lower draft age to 18 (Getty Images)
The United States believes that Ukraine should lower its draft age to 18, suggesting that this could potentially change the situation on the battlefield, according to Reuters.
According to the agency, an unnamed senior official from the US presidential administration stated that Ukraine needs to lower its draft age to 18.
The official claims that Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough soldiers for the war with Russia. Therefore, in their opinion, it is necessary to replenish the ranks of personnel.
"The Russians are in fact making progress, steady progress, in the east, and they are beginning to push back Ukrainian lines in Kursk ... Mobilization and more manpower could make a significant difference at this time as we look at the battlefield today," Reuters quotes an unnamed official.
Mobilization in Ukraine
It is important to note that in Ukraine, men aged 25 to 60 are subject to military service. Earlier this year, the mobilization age was reduced from 27 to 25.
On October 15, Serhii Leshchenko, an advisor to the head of the Presidential Office, claimed that the United States is pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to lower the draft age to 18.
However, the Ukrainian President has opposed such US calls.
Additionally, just last week, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that Ukraine reportedly needs soldier mobilization more than new weapons.
