US Secretary of State: Ukraine will have to make difficult decisions about further mobilization, but it is necessary

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes Ukrainian authorities will have to make “difficult decisions” about further mobilization to counter the Russian invasion. He said this at a press conference in Brussels, where the summit of NATO foreign ministers was taking place; the Secretary of State’s speech was broadcast by Reuters.

Blinken was asked what specific measures NATO is proposing to strengthen Kyiv's position ahead of possible negotiations with Russia.

The US Secretary of State responded that NATO ministers discussed, in particular, providing Ukraine with the necessary finances and resources to support its economy and defense, as well as providing the country with weapons. He named mobilization as another measure.

“This is critical. Because even if they have money and even if they have ammunition, they must have people on the front lines who can resist Russian aggression. Ukraine will have to make difficult decisions about further mobilization, but these are necessary decisions. Our goal is to ensure that every mobilized soldier receives the necessary training and support to effectively defend the country,” Blinken said.

• At the end of November, the Associated Press and the Financial Times reported that the United States was calling on Ukraine to urgently review its legislation and lower the conscription age for mobilization from 25 to 18 years in order to quickly increase the size of its armed forces. President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, commenting on these reports, said that the problem lies not in the number of military personnel at the front, but in the insufficient provision of weapons and equipment to the already formed brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In turn, official representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Georgy Tikhy confirmed that Kiev discussed with its allies the issue of lowering the mobilization age.