Blocking of Proposals to Decrease Conscription Age in Ukraine's War Efforts by MPs

Ukraine's parliament has rejected plans to lower the conscription age for men from 27 to 25, as proposed by President Zelensky. The bill also aimed to impose stricter penalties on individuals attempting to evade military service. President Zelensky had previously stated that an additional 450,000-500,000 soldiers were necessary to combat Russia's invasion. Members of Parliament expressed concerns that the legislation could infringe upon human rights and requested amendments. The bill additionally sought to allow electronic summoning of Ukrainians to join the armed forces. While many men initially volunteered to fight at the war's onset, it has become increasingly challenging to enlist new soldiers nearly two years later. Ukrainian citizens living abroad were informed in December that they would be required to report for military duty, although President Zelensky referred to it as an "invitation," there were suggestions of potential sanctions for noncompliance. The issue of increasing troop numbers is both delicate and costly, according to President Zelensky. This development coincides with the slowing momentum of Kyiv's recent counter-offensive and a decline in military aid provisions in recent months. The US Republican Party blocked a $61 billion military package, and Hungary halted a €50 billion ($55 billion) EU financial agreement. President Zelensky is currently on a tour of Baltic states, seeking increased support and urging Western allies to supply additional air defense weapons. While speaking in Tallinn, Estonia, he emphasized the dangers of Western hesitation and commented, "Sometimes the insecurity of partners regarding financial and military aid to Ukraine only increases Russia's courage and strength." In a new report, it was revealed that over $1 billion worth of US military aid given to Ukraine since February 2022 was not adequately tracked. The Pentagon's inspector general found that US officials in Washington DC and Europe did not effectively account for thousands of weapons, including missile launchers and air defense missiles, raising concerns about potential misappropriation of the $1.69 billion in military aid provided to Ukraine. However, a response letter from Colonel Garrett W Trott of the US military's European Command highlighted that the report did not uncover any evidence of unauthorized or illicit transfers of defense articles provided to Ukraine. The report itself acknowledged that it was not within its remit to determine if any arms had been misappropriated.