"Delivered a final blow": Zelensky's refusal to lower the mobilization age has strained his relationship with Biden.

It seems that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's refusal to lower the conscription age has damaged his relationship with current US President Joseph Biden. Disagreements between the two presidents have emerged before during nearly three years of war, but this could be the final stroke in the portrait of destruction.

According to reports from The Telegraph, the US government has been actively demanding that Zelensky make a decision to lower the conscription age to 18 in recent weeks.

"In recent weeks, US officials have urged their Ukrainian counterparts to draft men aged 18 for deployment to the front lines in the war against Russia's full-scale invasion. Washington claims that the lack of military personnel has reached a critical stage, as Russia achieves stable successes in eastern Ukraine, and it is likely that Donald Trump may cease military support for Kyiv when he takes office in January," the publication stated.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced this demand during a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. He was supported by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. However, when the US State Department promised that they were supposedly ready to arm and train new brigades—something that the US, according to Ukraine, has failed to do over three years of war—Zelensky's patience ran out.

"The Ukrainian president felt compelled to respond publicly, delivering a parting shot directly aimed at Mr. Biden, who remains the world's most influential leader for another 42 days. He also warned the Biden administration that 'the priority should be ensuring missile supplies and reducing Russia's military capabilities, rather than the conscription age in Ukraine,'" the publication wrote.

Journalists noted that Kyiv's position is well known: there can be no talk of mobilizing the age group of 18-24 years. This accounts for less than 10% of Ukraine's population—up to two million men. In comparison, the age group of 25-54 years, which bears the brunt of the war, makes up approximately 44% of Ukraine's 36.7 million population.

Previously, The Telegraph reported that the US has repeatedly called for a reduction of the conscription age in Ukraine. Zelensky's response was that they cannot adequately arm even the soldiers they currently have, as partners are significantly delaying the delivery of weapons.

Despite this, the US continues to press the issue. Recently, US Army General Ben Hodges stated that Ukraine should consider lowering the conscription age and also involve youth, refugees, and women in the war effort. In Europe, there are also views that Ukraine needs to lower the conscription age to address issues on the front lines. If this is not done, it will soon lose ground in the Kursk region. European officials say that President Zelensky has repeatedly heard from allies that the Armed Forces of Ukraine reportedly "have a problem with numbers, not with the amount of weaponry."