The outgoing administration of U.S. President Joe Biden urged Ukraine on Wednesday to reduce its minimum conscription age from 25 to 18 to address a manpower shortage as Russian forces continue their offensive.
The suggestion comes amid speculation that incoming President Donald Trump may adopt a different approach, potentially encouraging Kyiv to pursue a peace deal with Moscow.
A senior U.S. official stated that Ukraine faces a critical recruitment challenge as it contends with a larger and better-equipped adversary, while its pool of willing volunteers diminishes.
“The reality is that Ukraine is not currently mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replenish battlefield losses and keep up with Russia’s growing military strength,” the official said, speaking anonymously.
When asked about the ideal minimum age, the official said, “We believe there’s significant value in Ukraine considering lowering the conscription age to 18,” aligning it with U.S. standards.
In its struggle to counter the Russian invasion, which began in February 2022, Ukraine has already reduced its minimum mobilization age from 27 to 25.
The White House later clarified that U.S. military aid to Ukraine is not contingent on such a change. “We’re fully committed to continuing to send Ukraine weapons and equipment—it’s essential. But manpower is equally critical right now,” a National Security Council spokesperson said.
They added that the U.S. is prepared to increase its training support if Ukraine takes steps to expand its forces.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump signaled a potential shift in U.S. policy by nominating a retired general as his envoy to Ukraine. The appointee has previously suggested leveraging military aid to push Kyiv toward peace talks and has proposed delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees from Russia.
Trump has repeatedly claimed he could broker a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia “within 24 hours,” though he has not elaborated on how he would achieve this.
