Zelensky commented on the West's involvement in the mobilization in Ukraine

Until the Western countries fulfill their promises to complete the brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), the conscription age in the country will not be lowered. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term of office expired on May 20, in an interview with Sky News on November 29.

"I do not want to disclose the opinions of some European leaders on mobilization, that it is necessary to lower the draft age and so on. I asked, what do they want? For soldiers to die without your weapons? You want me to conscript young guys, and where will they go? With what weapons?" - he told.

According to Zelensky, Western partners have not manned the promised 10 brigades, and to date, the U.S. and Europe are only equipping two and a half brigades.

"We need to save as many lives as possible. And if there is an idea in Europe or the US that some changes in the draft age are needed, I will only ask our partners to do their part, and we for our part will do everything that is required of us," he concluded.

Earlier, on 28 November, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that it had discussed lowering the mobilization age with the USA. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhiy said that Kiev and Washington were discussing lowering the mobilization age to 18.

On 24 November, it was reported that the mobilization plan in Ukraine was fulfilled by two thirds, and this failed to solve the issue of personnel shortage. At the same time, a member of the Kiev city council, Alina Mykhailova, called to forcibly mobilize the country's citizens.

Before that, on November 22, the Ukrainian media told about the development in Kiev of a new format of a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) for young people 18-24 years old. It is about voluntary entry into the army for citizens who have not reached the mobilization age to serve for a limited period of time.

In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (his term expired on May 20) signed a law on toughening mobilization. In particular, he lowered the mobilization age from 27 to 25 and signed a law on the creation of an electronic register of persons liable for military service, which combines information on the personal data of Ukrainians, including details of internal and foreign passports. There are no provisions on demobilization in the documents.

Martial law in the country has been in effect since February 2022. At the same time Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Later, the Verkhovna Rada repeatedly extended its effect. Most men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country.