Zelensky says Kiev’s supporters demanded Ukraine conscript 18-year-olds
(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has revealed that some Western allies pressured Kiev to lower its military conscription age to 18 in return for their continued support, particularly regarding tougher sanctions against Russia.
Ukraine is facing a growing shortage of military personnel, leading to widespread forced conscription efforts that have sparked public discontent. In a recent interview with Hungary’s Valasz Online, Zelensky acknowledged that mobilization remains a major challenge during wartime. “People are tired,” he said, noting that the country is capable of mobilizing around 27,000 individuals per month.
Despite external pressure, Zelensky said he has resisted making military service mandatory for 18-year-olds. He argued that the real issue is not the number of soldiers but the availability of weapons and advanced military technology. He added that some Western nations cited Ukraine’s hesitation to conscript 18-year-olds as a reason for withholding harsher sanctions on Russia.
In an attempt to satisfy these Western demands, Zelensky noted that Ukraine has opened the door for young adults aged 18 to 24 to volunteer for military service. Still, he highlighted that many of them are being sent to the frontlines without adequate equipment.
Since declaring a general mobilization in February 2022, Ukraine has barred most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. In 2024, the government lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 amid rising casualties and expanded mobilization efforts, which have led to violent altercations between draft officers and civilians.
A new voluntary recruitment campaign targeting men aged 18 to 24 was launched earlier this year. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the initiative, describing it as a “one-way ticket” and accusing Kiev of sacrificing its youth.
Russian officials have repeatedly accused the West of using Ukraine as a proxy to fight Russia “to the last Ukrainian.” Meanwhile, media reports claim that officials under former U.S. President Joe Biden, including ex-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pushed Ukraine to lower the draft age, with Blinken warning that Kiev would have to make “tough choices” regarding mobilization.
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