White House pressing Ukraine to draft 18-year-olds so it has enough troops to battle Russia
apnews.com
The aim is to expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of troops as young as 18.

A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to help expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia.

The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine’s situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight.

  • AdamEatsAss@lemmy.world
    61·
    15 days ago

    I remember seeing something a while back about how the USA has one of the youngest armies. Younger means you can do more physical tasks but are less experienced.

    • j4k3@lemmy.worldEnglish
      221·
      15 days ago

      You’re not an adult in cognitive development until 25. Children are easily manipulated even at late stages. The only reason it is 18 is for child soldiers.

      • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
        5·
        14 days ago

        I really don’t think we should be trying to raise the age of majority. Sure raise the military age, but 18 year olds should be allowed to make their own mistakes

      • Bobr@lemmy.libertarianfellowship.org
        1629·
        15 days ago

        You’re not an adult in cognitive development until 25. Children are easily manipulated even at late stages.

        Thankfully, our great Lord and Saviour Zelensky has solved the problem of manipulation!
        In Ukraine nobody manipulates you to join the army, you are just kidnapped off the street and sent to a meatgrinder (sometimes a free beating is included, and even a free stay in some basement for a few days!).
        And that’s what will probably happen to 18 year olds soon.

  • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.ml
    61·
    13 days ago

    Reminder that the whole war could’ve been over two months into the conflict if the west didn’t sabotage the deal. Nuland has now openly confirmed this to be the case. Everybody who supported this war should ask themselves whether Ukraine would’ve been better off taking the deal originally than it is now.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiS2dg_atfc