Trump's team shares the current administration's view on the call for 18-year-old Ukrainians: It's something that will be demanded.

He shared this during an ABC News broadcast.

According to him, Washington will need to see a "real stabilization of the situation on the battlefield."

"One of the things that will be required of the Ukrainians is that they currently have issues with human resources; their conscription age is 26 years (Waltz meant 25 years, as stipulated by law — ed.), not 18," Waltz stated.

The Trump advisor noted that he doesn't think "many people realize" that they can prepare "hundreds of thousands" of new soldiers.

"They have certainly fought bravely. They have undoubtedly taken a very noble and tough position, but we need to see how the issue of manpower shortages is addressed," he remarked.

According to the Republican, this is not just about ammunition or "writing additional checks," but also about stabilizing the front line.

It should be noted that the current U.S. administration has repeatedly urged Ukraine to lower the conscription age. For instance, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Kyiv needs to make 'difficult decisions' regarding mobilization. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also spoke about 'increasing the number of forces on the front lines'.

In the U.S., there have even been promises that if Ukraine lowers its mobilization age, Washington and its allies will equip the new recruits.

Lowering the Conscription Age

In April 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law reducing the maximum age for citizens on military conscription lists from 27 to 25 years. The parliament passed it back in 2023.

Later, a member of parliament and secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Roman Kostenko, stated that mobilization levels in Ukraine have decreased after several months of the relevant law being in effect, and therefore, "radical" measures need to be taken — for example, lowering the conscription age.

Moreover, Ukrainian politicians have also shared that American partners raised the issue of mobilizing those aged 18 to 25. They believe that people in the 18-25 age group are the most effectively capable of fighting, "considering their physical and psychological qualities."

However, Zelensky has repeatedly assured that Ukraine does not plan to reduce the mobilization age again, despite the fact that the country's partners would prefer such a decision. According to him, this is dangerous at the moment.