U.S. calls on Ukraine to lower age of military service to 18, Ukraine's MFA confirms

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said this, UNIAN reports.

"I can confirm that this topic is being discussed in the talks. I can deny that it is a point of tension or that it is being discussed in a critical or negative way," the diplomat said.

"This is part of the discussions, as well as other topics such as arms provision, strategies, defense, sanctions, deterrence, etc. It is discussed among other topics. I can't say that I have heard or seen that this has become a point of disagreement or tension in the negotiations," he clarified.

According to him, Kyiv insists that military aid is more important than manpower, as Ukraine lacks the proper amount of weapons and equipment to equip the men already mobilized.

"We believe that the aid already announced - weapons and equipment - should arrive faster. This has been our consistent position since the beginning of the full-scale war," the diplomat said.

The day before, Reuters reported, citing a senior official in the Joe Biden administration, that the United States is allegedly putting pressure on Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18.

‘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 statement said.

The official stressed that Ukraine is not mobilizing and training enough new soldiers for the war with Russia.

• On November 25, the Ukrainian parliament registered draft law No. 12222 to reduce the age limit for military service from 60 to 55.