Zelensky responds to the idea of lowering the mobilization age to 18

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his position on the US proposal to lower the mobilization age to 18. In this case, the states promised to provide recruits with the necessary equipment.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine should focus its efforts on providing existing military brigades with modern equipment and training, rather than compensating for the lack of equipment with young recruits.

"There is a lot of talk in the media about lowering the draft age for Ukrainians to be sent to the front. We should focus on providing the existing brigades with equipment and training the personnel to use this equipment. We must not compensate for the lack of equipment and training with young soldiers," the head of state said in a statement.

The President also emphasized that the priority should be to supply modern weapons and reduce Russia's military potential. He added that the main goal is to save the lives of Ukrainians, not weapons depots.

Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of cooperation with international partners to achieve peace. He noted that the talks in Paris, organized by French President Emmanuel Macron, were fruitful. The President expressed hope for further support from the United States, Europe and other allies in the world to achieve a just peace.

On December 9, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that if Ukraine lowers the mobilization age to 18, all recruits will be provided with full equipment.

In November, advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine Serhiy Leshchenko said that representatives of both major US parties were putting pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, asking why citizens aged 18 to 25 were not being mobilized in Ukraine.

Ірина Глухова