Lowering the mobilization age in Ukraine: 18 years old – for the army

The United States has proposed several initiatives to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities, including lowering the draft age to 18. This was announced by John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, during an interview with France 24.

Bolton stressed that Ukraine should refrain from holding elections during a war, as about 20% of its territory is currently under enemy control, a significant reason to postpone them. He recalled that a similar situation occurred in Great Britain during World War II, when holding elections became impossible due to the occupation of part of the country.

However, Bolton does not rule out holding local elections where possible. At the same time, he emphasized the need for a more active fight against corruption in Ukraine, noting that Kyiv must demonstrate its commitment to this effort.

Another vital proposal from Bolton was to lower the draft age to 18, which is intended to strengthen combat units and continue the fight against the aggressor. He emphasized the importance of evenly distributing the burden of war among the country’s population.