Biden’s team disappointed with Ukrainian authorities’ reluctance to lower mobilization age from 25 to 18 - WP
Despite the acceleration of the supply of much-needed weapons to Ukraine, there is growing frustration in the administration of current US President Joe Biden with the refusal of Ukrainian leaders to lower the draft age from 25 to 18.
This is reported by The Wasington Post, Censor.NET reports.
"The Biden administration is engaged in an 11th-hour scramble to provide Ukraine with billions of dollars in additional weaponry, a massive effort that is generating concerns internally about its potential to erode U.S. stockpiles and sap resources from other flash points," US officials told the publication.
As noted, the "lame duck" initiative was partly spurred by Russia's momentum on the battlefield and fears among Ukraine's most ardent supporters that after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, there will be a sharp change in US policy toward the war in Ukraine.
"Yet some in the administration have taken the view that no matter what Washington does, Kyiv’s military will remain outmatched without far more soldiers to sustain its fight. And even as they accelerate arms shipments, there is growing frustration with Ukraine’s leaders, who have resisted U.S. calls to lower the country’s draft age from 25 to 18, "-WP writes.
In recent weeks, Russian forces have captured Ukrainian territory at the fastest pace since 2022, causing alarm in Washington.
Administration officials say their end-of-term weapons push — accompanied by President Joe Biden’s decision to greenlight missile strikes deep into Russian territory and the deployment of antipersonnel land mines long criticized by human rights groups — can give Kyiv some breathing room.
"But they are urging Ukrainian leaders to use the moment to expand their military beyond the 160,000 recruits Kyiv says it needs." The Wasington Post adds.
Russia's successes on the frontline have worried the Biden administration, although senior officials and others have said they do not expect a major breakthrough of Ukraine's defense lines in the coming months, even if Moscow continues to advance.
These officials cautioned, however, that the race to use the remaining $61 billion in additional aid could lead to "overstretching the U.S. military."
Of particular concern, the newspaper notes, is the number of air defense interceptors and certain types of artillery shells being rushed to Ukraine. Both will be difficult to replace quickly, and these losses will reduce U.S. military readiness for other potential hot spots in the Middle East and Asia, one WP official said.
"U.S. readiness is in serious jeopardy" if other needs are not balanced with Ukraine's, the official added.
Earlier, a senior official told the media that the administration of current US President Joe Biden urges Ukraine to immediately increase the size of the armed forces by drafting more soldiers and revising mobilization legislation to allow conscription of people over the age of 18.
On November 19, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Ukraine should increase mobilization to improve the situation at the front. However, no single weapons system is decisive in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
On November 19, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Ukraine should strengthen mobilization to improve the situation at the front. However, no single weapons system is decisive in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Ukraine is indeed discussing mobilization and lowering the mobilization age in talks with Western partners, but the problem is the delay in the promised deliveries of the necessary weapons.
