President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the growing discussion about lowering the draft age for Ukrainians. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing training and equipping existing military brigades rather than focusing on age. “We must not compensate the lack of equipment and training with the youth of soldiers,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.
He further stressed, “The priority should be providing missiles and lowering Russia’s military potential, not Ukraine’s draft age.” Zelenskyy highlighted that the main goal should be to preserve lives, not stockpile weapons. “The most important thing is to work together on how to end this war.”
Gratitude for Global Allies
Zelenskyy thanked French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for their support. He pointed out that global unity is essential to end the war justly. “During the meeting in Paris, this was exactly what we focused on, and it was a very productive conversation,” he said.
He also expressed his appreciation: “I reiterate my gratitude to President Macron for organizing it, as well as my deep gratitude to President Trump for his strong resolve to bring this war to a fair end.”
Unity for Peace
Zelenskyy continued by emphasizing that unity among nations is key to bringing peace. “We know that America has the capacity to accomplish remarkable things—things that others have not been able to achieve,” he said. “To succeed in ending this war, we need unity—unity of America, Europe, and everyone in the world who values security—as well as strong positions and guarantees for peace.”
He also noted, “I told President Trump that Putin fears only him and, perhaps, China. Only decisiveness can bring this war to a just end and ensure lasting peace.”
U.S. Official Calls for Lowering Draft Age
Zelenskyy’s comments came after a senior U.S. official suggested lowering Ukraine’s draft age from 25 to 18. The official believed more recruits were needed to replace soldiers lost in combat. According to Al Jazeera, the official mentioned that Russia was making progress in the east, pushing back Ukrainian forces.
“The need right now is manpower. The Russians are making steady progress in the east. Mobilization and more manpower could make a significant difference,” the official said.
The U.S. is also preparing a new weapons package for Ukraine before President Biden’s term ends in January.
