The United States is asking Ukraine to “seriously consider” eliminating a policy mandate that limits the draft age to 25 and older, a senior administration official told The Hill on Wednesday.
They propose lowering the age to 18 to expand manpower to fight Russia's enemies.
The official said that over the past three years, the United States has “moved mountains” to supply Ukraine with stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, allowing the country to “take back 50 percent” of the territory occupied by Russia. He said it became.
But without a pipeline of new soldiers, much progress could be lost, officials said. The Kremlin has significantly increased the number of troops available for combat after deploying some of the 10,000 soldiers drafted from North Korea.
The deal was reportedly a trade-off in exchange for Russian air defense missile systems.
In response to the move, the official said the United States was “forward deploying American troops” to Europe to train Ukrainian soldiers fleeing the front lines.
Ukrainian officials said they accept 18-year-old soldiers but do not conscript them out of respect for the law.
“We always want to give people choices and allow them to make their own choices. As we say now, we work according to all norms of the law.” Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said at a press conference in March: Ukraine News reported.
“The law clearly says 25 years or older. We're always happy if someone has a desire to come and serve their people.”
Ukraine announced it had lost between 60,000 and 100,000 soldiers. The Economist magazine report.
The official added that Ukraine has full support from the United States, but needs a willingness to “fight to stabilize the front and the future of the country.”
Philip Timotija contributed.
