Some representatives of the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden believe that Ukraine should lower the mobilization age from 25 to 18 years. Resistance to such a decision causes them "disappointment".
It was reported by The Washington Post, citing sources in the administration.
Administration representatives say that strikes deep into the aggressor country of russia and the transfer of anti-personnel land mines could give Ukraine some respite. However, officials have urged Ukrainian leaders to "seize the moment" to increase the army.
"Some in the administration believe that no matter what Washington does, the Ukrainian military will remain in the minority unless they have much more soldiers to continue the fight. And even despite the fact that they are accelerating the supply of weapons, frustration is growing with Ukrainian leaders who are resisting U.S. calls to lower the draft age from 25 to 18 years," the material says.
A senior Biden administration official said that while Ukraine's firepower has weakened with the slowdown in U.S. military aid, "it's not a problem now." In his opinion, the ammunition situation has improved, but "on the manpower side, it's just a matter of math and physics."
"I'm not trying to blame Ukraine for anything. This is a very difficult issue for them. But over the past year in particular, they simply haven't mobilized and trained enough soldiers to compensate for losses on the battlefield," the official said.
As Ukrainian News Agency reported, on October 18, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there will be no lowering of the mobilization age to 25 in Ukraine.
On October 15, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Serhii Leshchenko reported that Zelenskyy is under pressure from American politicians to lower the draft age and mobilize 18-year-olds.
As a reminder, on October 9, parliament passed a bill that would end the mobilization of limitedly fit men under 25.
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