“We must not compensate the lack of equipment and training with the youth of soldiers”: Zelensky opposes lowering of draft age

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to proposals from international partners to lower the draft age to increase the number of military personnel at the front. The head of state stressed that the youth of soldiers cannot compensate for the lack of equipment and training.

On his account on the social network X on the evening of December 9, the president noted that now Ukraine and its partners need to focus on providing existing brigades with equipment and training personnel to use this equipment.

Key points of the statement

• The main focus is on training and equipping brigades: Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's top priority, alongside its international partners, is to provide modern equipment to current brigades and adequately train the personnel to utilize it.

"The most important thing is to work together to end this war. This is our priority. This is what we focused on during the meeting in Paris, and it was a very productive conversation. I once again express my gratitude to President Macron for organizing it, as well as my deep gratitude to President Trump for his firm determination to end this war justly," Zelensky wrote.

• Saving military lives: the president noted that Ukraine seeks to minimize losses among personnel. The main emphasis should be placed on strengthening technical support and reducing the military potential of the aggressor.
• International unity to end the war: Zelensky stressed that a just end to the war requires the unity of Europe, the United States, and other states that share security values.

"I told President Trump that Putin is only afraid of him and, perhaps, China. And that is true. Only determination can bring this war to a just end and ensure lasting peace," the president added.

For reference:

It should be noted that the presidential advisor on communications, Dmytro Lytvyn, stated that there are no plans to lower the mobilization age to 18 in Ukraine. His statement came amid growing panic on social media over alleged intentions to lower the mobilization threshold so that conscripts who have reached the age of 18 can be called up for military service.

Previously, Zelensky had also addressed requests from allies to increase the number of personnel in Ukraine's armed forces. He emphasized that Ukraine's existing brigades currently do not have sufficient weaponry.

It should be noted that Jake Sullivan stated that Ukraine needs to increase the number of human power on the front line to strengthen its positions with the help of weapons provided by Washington.

Moreover, the Associated Press, citing its own source, reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden is calling on Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 to increase the size of its army quickly. Expanding the pool of eligible conscripts for military service is essential. According to the official, the uncompromising reality in Ukraine is the need for more troops to combat the current situation.

According to European officials who wished to remain anonymous, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also hearing concerns from other Western allies that Ukraine "has a problem with the number of troops, not with weapons."

European allies also emphasized that Ukraine will soon be unable to conduct combat operations in the Kursk region due to a shortage of people.

It is worth noting that the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense supported a bill prohibiting the mobilization of men aged 18 to 25.