Trump Aide Floats Push for Ukraine to Lower Conscription Age
Ukrainian soldiers take part in a training exercise in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, on Dec. 12, 2024.
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A top aide in President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration signaled that Ukraine will be asked to lower the conscription age to strengthen its battlefield position ahead of any settlement with Russia.
Michael Waltz, a former Army Green Beret and combat veteran of Afghanistan whom Trump tapped as his White House national security adviser, suggested the expanded draft-age eligibility would help Ukraine overcome a shortage of troops. Ukraine has persistently struggled with manpower while fighting the full-scale invasion begun by Vladimir Putin’s Russia almost three years ago.