The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna spoke about the demands of the Biden administration to lower the age of mobilization in Ukraine. According to her, such statements are an attempt to remove responsibility from the US for the undersupply of weapons.
"The lowering of the age of mobilization in Ukraine cannot be dictated by the statements of White House officials or anyone else," Stefanyshyn said. She added that mobilization is a reality that cannot be adjusted to political demands, and that soldiers must be provided with everything necessary for the effective performance of their duties.
Stefanishyna also expressed the opinion that calls to lower the mobilization age to 18 may be part of political maneuvers. "I personally perceive it as a desire to remove responsibility for the agreements that were made before," she said.
Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated that they reject US calls to lower the age of mobilization, in particular to 18, and intend to use alternative methods, such as voluntary kits with benefits. Recently, it became known that Ukraine plans to pay half a million hryvnias to those young men who voluntarily join the ranks of the army.
At the same time, according to sources, Bankova does not want to lower the minimum age of mobilization, which is currently 25, given the likelihood of the end of the war in the coming years, after the inauguration of Donald Trump. The authorities want to use their position as an element of the election campaign, saying that they will not allow the destruction of the nation's "gene pool". However, if the war continues for a long time, Ukraine may change its policy and lower the mobilization age.
