US officials warn that Ukraine’s lack of human resources may be more critical now than its lack of weapons.
The President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, is under increasing pressure to introduce mobilization from the age of 18, writes The Washington Post.
US officials have warned that Ukraine’s lack of human resources may be more critical than its lack of weapons, the newspaper wrote.
“Even if there is money, even if there are bullets, there must be people on the front line to deal with Russian aggression,” State Secretary Antony Blinken told reporters in Brussels last week.
WP draws attention to the fact that, despite the difficult situation on the battlefield, many Ukrainians who support the army have been against mobilization since they were 18 years old.
“They say that Ukrainian youth should be well protected because they are considered the future of the country and free from decades of Russian influence of previous generations,” the article said.
The publication notes that the issue of mobilization is causing deep disagreements in Ukrainian society. In the past, representatives of the Ukrainian government said that lowering the mobilization age below 25 years does not make sense when there are not enough weapons to equip the soldiers who are on the battlefield.
Whether this debate will remain relevant after the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump is unclear, WP notes.
The publication notes that Ukrainians characterize the Russian invasion as genocide, which has already killed so many of their most prominent and patriotic people on the front line. It says some influential activists say Ukraine should start mobilizing women instead of lowering the age of mobilization.
The article states that former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny has been an opponent of mobilization since the age of 18.
“We need Ukraine to exist for 20-30 years. This future belongs to them – the people who are now 18. It is a completely different generation that will save this country,” said Zaluzhny, the current Ukrainian ambassador to Britain, speaking to students in London.
WP reminds that there are also potential long-term demographic considerations: people under 30 are part of Ukraine’s smallest generation in its modern history, and Ukrainian officials note that men aged 25 and older are more likely to have at least one child than those under 25.
Lawmakers in Ukraine have called for other compromises, such as lowering the conscription age to 20 instead of 18, WP wrote.
The publication also cited the position of People’s Deputy Roman Kostenko, who stated on Ukrainian television that he was often asked by American lawmakers about the reason why Ukraine did not mobilize junior men, and that he did not have a good explanation.
“It’s hard for me to explain because I don’t know but in reality, when we fight a brutal war, some people are mobilized and others are not,” he said.
We remind you that President Vladimir Zelensky said that currently the authorities are not preparing to lower the age of mobilization.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.