In an interview with Reuters at NATO headquarters following a two-day meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers, Blinken reflected a growing concern among Western officials that Kyiv urgently requires increased manpower, alongside financial and military support, to counter Russian advances on the battlefield.
"These are very hard decisions, and I fully both understand that and respect that," Blinken said. "But, for example, getting younger people into the fight, we think—many of us think—is necessary. Right now, 18- to 25-year-olds are not in the fight."
Currently, Ukraine's conscription age starts at 25. Allies have been hesitant to publicly address the issue due to its political sensitivity, but Blinken's remarks suggest a shift toward encouraging Kyiv to reconsider its stance on mobilizing younger citizens.
Without specifying an age group, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed a similar view. "We have to make sure that enough people are available within Ukraine," Rutte told reporters. "We probably need more people to move to the front line."
Blinken emphasized that it is up to Ukrainian authorities to decide how best to integrate younger recruits into their armed forces.
After months of deliberation, Ukraine expanded its mobilization drive in April, making the process more efficient and lowering the draft age from 27 to 25. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stated he has no plans to reduce the mobilization age further.
The issue has gained urgency amid uncertainty over future U.S. support for Ukraine, as Kyiv awaits President-elect Donald Trump to outline his policy on the war.
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Source: Reuters