Zelensky aide says US teenage conscription demand 'makes no sense'
An aide to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has stated that Washington is being unreasonable by urging Kiev to reduce its mobilization age. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Washington should prioritize timely delivery of weapons to Ukraine, according to Dmitry Litvin.
Litvin, an aide to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, criticized the US for pressuring Ukraine to lower its mobilization age, emphasizing that Ukraine is struggling to arm its current soldiers. Reports from AP and Reuters indicate that the US has been advocating for Ukraine to conscript men as young as 18 to bolster its forces against Russia, while the existing minimum fighting age in Ukraine is set at 25.
“It does not make sense to see calls for Ukraine to lower the mobilization age, presumably in order to draft more people, when we can see that previously announced equipment is not arriving on time. Because of these delays, Ukraine lacks weapons to equip already mobilized soldiers,” Litvin stated on X on Thursday.
He pointed out that the US and its allies have access to all relevant data and can “compare promises to actual deliveries” themselves.
Litvin, who was Zelensky’s speechwriter before becoming an aide in September, stressed that “Ukraine cannot be expected to compensate for delays in logistics or hesitation in support with the youth of our men on the front line.”
A senior official from the administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden, speaking anonymously, suggested that Ukraine needs to lower its mobilization age since it is not drafting or training sufficient troops to replace losses incurred on the battlefield. “The need right now is manpower. The Russians are in fact making progress, steady progress, in the east, and they are beginning to push back Ukrainian lines in Kursk... Mobilization and more manpower could make a significant difference at this time as we look at the battlefield today,” the official remarked.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Zelensky and his government, stating they “have no right to push people to their deaths and drive them to slaughter,” labeling any orders given by Ukrainian authorities as “criminal” due to their illegitimate status, having not held an election.
Zelensky's term officially expired in May, but he remains in power after canceling the presidential election, citing martial law imposed in the early stages of the conflict with Russia.
Putin asserted that Russian troops are “fighting for their Motherland, for the future of Russia and their children,” claiming that no delivery of weapons, no matter how advanced, will alter the situation on the battlefield.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
Litvin, an aide to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, criticized the US for pressuring Ukraine to lower its mobilization age, emphasizing that Ukraine is struggling to arm its current soldiers. Reports from AP and Reuters indicate that the US has been advocating for Ukraine to conscript men as young as 18 to bolster its forces against Russia, while the existing minimum fighting age in Ukraine is set at 25.
“It does not make sense to see calls for Ukraine to lower the mobilization age, presumably in order to draft more people, when we can see that previously announced equipment is not arriving on time. Because of these delays, Ukraine lacks weapons to equip already mobilized soldiers,” Litvin stated on X on Thursday.
He pointed out that the US and its allies have access to all relevant data and can “compare promises to actual deliveries” themselves.
Litvin, who was Zelensky’s speechwriter before becoming an aide in September, stressed that “Ukraine cannot be expected to compensate for delays in logistics or hesitation in support with the youth of our men on the front line.”
A senior official from the administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden, speaking anonymously, suggested that Ukraine needs to lower its mobilization age since it is not drafting or training sufficient troops to replace losses incurred on the battlefield. “The need right now is manpower. The Russians are in fact making progress, steady progress, in the east, and they are beginning to push back Ukrainian lines in Kursk... Mobilization and more manpower could make a significant difference at this time as we look at the battlefield today,” the official remarked.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Zelensky and his government, stating they “have no right to push people to their deaths and drive them to slaughter,” labeling any orders given by Ukrainian authorities as “criminal” due to their illegitimate status, having not held an election.
Zelensky's term officially expired in May, but he remains in power after canceling the presidential election, citing martial law imposed in the early stages of the conflict with Russia.
Putin asserted that Russian troops are “fighting for their Motherland, for the future of Russia and their children,” claiming that no delivery of weapons, no matter how advanced, will alter the situation on the battlefield.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
