**Ukraine Won’t Use Young Soldiers to Make Up for Military Gaps**
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine will not use young soldiers to compensate for its lack of military equipment and training. He made this statement on social media, in response to pressure from Western allies.
The US and other countries have been urging Ukraine to lower its draft age from 25 to 18, so more troops can be mobilized. But Zelensky says that’s not the priority. Instead, he wants to focus on equipping and training existing brigades, and working with allies to end Russia’s invasion.
**Zelensky’s Message**
“We must not compensate the lack of equipment and training with the youth of soldiers,” Zelensky said on social media. He emphasized that Ukraine’s goal should be to preserve as many lives as possible, not just to keep weapons in storage.
Zelensky also thanked French President Emmanuel Macron and US President-elect Donald Trump for their recent meeting in Paris, calling it a “productive conversation”. He said he told President Trump that Putin fears only him and China, and that decisiveness is the key to ending the war and ensuring lasting peace.
**US Pressure on Ukraine**
Earlier this week, the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Washington will provide training and weapons to Ukrainian soldiers if Kyiv lowers its conscription age. This comes after reports in November that the US was urging Ukraine to lower its draft age to 18, amid troop shortages.
Ukraine has been struggling with personnel shortages throughout its fight against Russia. Despite adopting a major bill reforming the draft in April, mobilization slowed down in autumn, leaving front-line units depleted. Russian forces significantly outnumber Ukrainian units and have been able to advance at record rates in eastern Ukraine.