Outgoing US President Joe Biden’s administration on Wednesday urged Ukraine to lower the minimum age for enlistment from 25 to 18 to address troop shortages as Russian forces advance.
The call for Kyiv to beef up its troops comes amid speculation that President-elect Donald Trump will take a new approach, such as pressuring Ukraine to sign a peace deal with Moscow.
A senior Biden administration official said Ukraine is facing an existential mobilization crisis, facing a better-armed enemy and dwindling volunteer ranks.
“The simple truth is that Ukraine is not currently mobilizing and training enough troops to compensate for losses on the battlefield and keep up with Russia’s growing military,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
When asked what Washington thought was the appropriate minimum age for mobilization, the official said that “we think it’s certainly worthwhile for them to consider lowering the conscription age to 18,” as is the case in the United States.
After February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, Ukraine has already lowered the age of mobilization from 27 to 25.
The White House later clarified that the call did not mean that massive US military aid to Kyiv would be contingent on changing the conscription age.
“We will certainly continue to send weapons and equipment to Ukraine. We know it’s vital. But at this point, the number of troops is also important,” said John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council.
“In fact, we think they need staff the most.” So, we are also ready to increase our training capacity if they take appropriate measures to replenish their ranks,” he said.
Trump hinted that his approach may differ from Biden’s when he appointed a staunch loyalist, Reserve Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, as his special envoy for Ukraine on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, Kellogg urged Washington to use military aid to Kyiv as leverage to get the Ukrainians to start peace talks with Moscow.
He also offered to promise that NATO would not accept security guarantees from Russia in exchange for Ukraine for many years.
Trump has previously said he would reach a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia “within 24 hours,” but did not explain how.
Source: www.15min.lt
