U.S. urges Ukraine to lower fighting age to 18 to strengthen forces against Russia
The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden has urged Ukraine to lower its minimum conscription age from 25 to 18 in order to address a manpower shortage as Russian forces continue to advance.
The suggestion comes amid speculation about the potential shift in policy under the incoming president, Donald Trump, who may adopt a new approach, possibly pushing Ukraine toward a peace agreement with Moscow.
A senior Biden administration official stated that Ukraine is facing an “existential” recruitment crisis as it battles a larger, better-equipped Russian military, while its pool of volunteers is diminishing. “The simple truth is that Ukraine is not currently mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace battlefield losses and keep pace with Russia’s growing military,” the official said, speaking anonymously.
When asked about the minimum conscription age, the official emphasized that the U.S. believes Ukraine should consider lowering it to 18, which is the standard age in the U.S. military. Ukraine has already reduced its mobilization age from 27 to 25 in response to the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
However, the Biden administration clarified that it is not making the continued flow of U.S. military aid to Ukraine contingent on this change in conscription policy. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby assured that the U.S. will continue to send weapons and equipment to Ukraine, stressing the importance of both military supplies and sufficient manpower. “In fact, manpower is the most vital need they have,” Kirby said, adding that the U.S. is prepared to enhance training efforts if Ukraine takes steps to bolster its forces.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump hinted at a potential shift in his approach to Ukraine when he nominated retired General Keith Kellogg, a staunch Trump ally, as his Ukraine envoy. Kellogg has previously suggested that the U.S. could use its military aid to pressure Ukraine into peace talks with Russia and has proposed offering security guarantees to Russia in exchange for a delay in Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that he could broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia “in 24 hours,” though he has not specified how this would be achieved.
