The United States has called on Ukraine to lower its military recruitment age from 25 to 18 to bolster the number of soldiers engaged in combat against Russia. An anonymous US administration official explained that adjusting the conscription age could help Ukraine keep pace with the increasing size of Russia's military forces, emphasizing the urgency of this situation as Ukraine struggles to replace battlefield losses.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that the government is not considering this change in policy. He stated that there would be no amendments to the mobilization age despite pressures from the US. According to Dmytro Lytvyn, a senior advisor to Zelenskyy, the main issue lies in the delayed delivery of Western weapons, which makes it unreasonable for Ukraine to enhance troop numbers without adequate military supplies.

Concerns about troop morale have also surfaced, with reports indicating that many newly mobilized soldiers are abandoning their posts. A commander noted that the majority of these soldiers often do not return after their initial deployment. In spite of these manpower challenges, analysts suggest that Ukrainian forces are still performing effectively on the defensive, though they remain significantly outnumbered by Russian troops.

The White House has reassured that military aid from the US will not be contingent upon Ukraine lowering its conscription age. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the US will continue to provide weapons and equipment, which he categorized as essential, but he acknowledged that manpower is currently an urgent need for Ukraine. Moving forward, the Biden administration is focused on ensuring adequate support is directed to Ukraine before the next presidential inauguration in January.