The US has urged Ukraine to consider lowering its military service age from 25 to 18 years.
This recommendation comes as the Joe Biden administration prepares a $725 million weapons package for Ukraine.
The package, which is expected to be finalized before President Biden leaves office in January, includes antitank mines, drones, Stinger missiles, cluster munitions, and ammunition for HIMARS.
A senior US official emphasized the need for manpower, stating that Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough new soldiers to replace those killed in action.
The official noted that Russian forces are making progress in the east, pushing back Ukrainian lines in Kursk. The official believes that mobilization and more manpower could make a significant difference in the current battlefield.
Ukrainian forces have healthy stockpiles of vital tools, munitions, and weapons, but without a pipeline of new troops, existing units cannot rotate out to rest, refit, train, and re-equip. A source in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office expressed concern about the lack of equipment, such as armored vehicles, to support the troops.
In April, Zelenskyy lowered the mobilization age for combat duty from 27 to 25 under martial law. Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, warned that a potential reduction in US support under the incoming Trump administration would be a “death sentence” for the Ukrainian army.
The situation in Ukraine remains dire, with Russian forces advancing at their fastest rate since the early days of the invasion.
The US and other Western countries are urging Ukraine to take steps to strengthen its military and defend its territory.
