The White House is urging Ukraine to lower its military recruitment age from 25 to 18, aiming to bolster troop numbers in the face of Russia’s larger army.
A senior Biden administration official stressed that Ukraine needs to “recruit and train more soldiers to offset losses,” as U.S. military aid, exceeding $56 b4illion, continues to flow. While Ukraine has over a million personnel in uniform, shortages persist, particularly as its offensive in the Kursk region has stalled.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has resisted lowering the age limit, arguing that equipment shortfalls, not manpower, are the greater issue. A Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, criticized the push, suggesting Western allies are deflecting attention from delays in arms deliveries.
Despite recent efforts to broaden eligibility, including lowering the upper age limit and eliminating exemptions, Ukraine remains short of its estimated need for 160,000 additional soldiers. Critics warn that reducing the minimum age could harm the economy by pulling young adults from the workforce and increase the human toll in a war already claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.
The debate coincides with political uncertainty in Washington, as Donald Trump’s potential return to power raises doubts about continued U.S. support. Meanwhile, the White House maintains that “boots on the ground” are Ukraine’s most urgent need, with spokesperson Sean Savett offering expanded training if Ukraine takes steps to meet recruitment demands.
