The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky commented on proposals to lower the conscription age, which have been put forward by representatives of NATO and other partner countries. According to UNIAN's correspondent, he made this statement during a meeting with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
"We have heard signals multiple times regarding the age of our military, the conscription age, and so on... I will not specify a particular number because it's risky: we have over a hundred brigades on the battlefield, and each of these brigades needs to be staffed daily," the head of state noted.
According to him, one of the key issues remains the lack of necessary equipment.
"Equipment - armored vehicles, artillery, everything that is needed in each brigade," Zelensky said.
He also pointed out that a significant number of brigades frequently experience equipment failures or require repairs. Zelensky emphasized:
"There is always some level of under-staffing. Therefore, when we talk about increasing the number of our personnel, we must understand that there is currently no corresponding staffing. We need to equip our brigades with the appropriate equipment. All these requests are with our partners. I believe this is crucial. A person must be protected. A person must not only be protected but also have the appropriate weapons and knowledge. It seems to me that this is what our partners should primarily provide to the Ukrainian army."
Calls to Lower the Conscription Age in Ukraine - Latest News
Previously, Jake Sullivan, a national security advisor in President Joe Biden's administration, stated that the issue of mobilization in Ukraine and the number of conscripted citizens has evolved over time. It has become more acute over the past year, which means Ukraine will have to make an independent decision on whether to lower the conscription age to 18.
"This is a pressing issue, and it's something Ukraine will have to address, even if we do everything possible to provide them with the necessary ammunition," he noted. Sullivan also emphasized that Ukraine's need to "fully equip" brigades and battalions is growing as the U.S. supplies a vast amount of ammunition and military equipment.