U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging Ukraine to increase the enlistment of young people to defend their country against Russia’s invasion. Blinken emphasized the importance of younger recruits in replenishing Kyiv’s depleted troops to withstand Moscow’s assault during a press conference and interview with Reuters at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Dec. 4.
He highlighted the need for Ukraine to have the necessary resources, including money, munitions, and mobilized forces, to continue resisting Russia’s invasion. Blinken suggested that Ukraine may need to make tough decisions about further mobilization, such as lowering the draft age from 25 to 18, to boost its frontline troops.
While acknowledging the challenges and complexities involved in such decisions, Blinken stressed the importance of getting younger people involved in the fight. He pointed out that currently, 18- to 25-year-olds are not actively engaged in combat.
The Biden administration’s stance on Ukraine boosting troop levels aligns with earlier media speculation. Ukraine had already taken steps in April to lower the draft-eligible age for men and increase recruitment efforts to mobilize additional troops. However, some analysts believe that more needs to be done to address the gap in manpower effectively.
Despite the calls to lower the draft age further, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has so far resisted, emphasizing the importance of securing more weapons and equipment. He has suggested offering special contracts to encourage voluntary enlistment among men under 25 as an alternative approach.
Blinken’s remarks signify a shift in public pressure to encourage Ukraine to reconsider its strategy for mobilizing younger citizens into battle. The focus remains on ensuring that new recruits receive the necessary training and equipment to defend the country effectively.
Thousands of Ukrainians initially enlisted to defend their country after Russia’s invasion in 2022, but sustaining and replenishing the ranks of frontline troops remains a significant challenge for Kyiv. Please rewrite this sentence.
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