The United States has urged Ukraine to lower its minimum military service age from 25 to 18.
This call comes as Russian forces continue to make substantial territorial gains in the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about Ukraine's ability to sustain its defense efforts.
A senior U.S. administration official emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "The need right now is manpower."
The official highlighted that Russian forces are advancing steadily in the eastern region, pushing back Ukrainian lines near Kursk.
Reports indicate that Russian troops have captured areas equivalent to half the size of London in recent weeks.
This recommendation for lowering the recruitment age follows an earlier decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who reduced the mobilization age from 27 to 25 in April.
However, U.S. officials argue that further reductions are necessary to address the immediate manpower shortfall.
The suggestion has sparked political challenges for Zelenskiy's government, which is already struggling with shortages of armored vehicles and other critical supplies.
Germany has echoed the U.S. call, with a German defense ministry source confirming Berlin's support for reducing the conscription age.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is exploring non-mandatory recruitment drives, offering incentives to encourage younger citizens to enlist voluntarily.
Despite these challenges, the Biden administration remains committed to supporting Ukraine with extensive military aid, including artillery rounds, rockets, vehicles, and air defense systems. A U.S. official noted, "They now have healthy stockpiles of the vital tools, munitions, and weapons that they need to succeed on the battlefield." However, without new troops, existing units cannot rotate out to rest, refit, train, and reequip.
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