Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian agency: Russia will conduct a nuclear test if the US does
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba
Al-Nunu: Today, the lists of prisoners required to be released, the agreed-upon criteria and numbers, were exchanged
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Negotiations focused on mechanisms for implementing an end to the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners

US worried over Ukraine's manpower, resources shortage: WashPo

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Washington Post
  • 2 Dec 2024 19:14
4 Min Read

US officials are concerned that despite increased aid, Ukraine's military will remain unable to deter Russia without more troops, with the Biden administration urging Ukraine to lower its conscription age while facing mounting challenges of recruitment, desertions, and insufficient equipment.

Listen
  • x
  • Biden surges arms to Ukraine, fearing Trump will halt aid
    US President Joe Biden listens as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on September 26, 2024. (AP)

According to The Washington Post, some in the current US administration are worried that no matter what aid is given to it, the Ukrainian army will be unable to deter Russia without more troops.

Officials say the Biden administration is engaged in a final effort to provide Ukraine with additional weapons worth billions of dollars, a massive undertaking that has raised internal concerns about its impact on depleting US stockpiles and draining resources from other areas. 

White House spokesperson John Kirby said last week that the US is "absolutely" going to continue funding Ukraine, emphasizing that aid was not the only vital thing but so was manpower.

"In fact, we believe manpower is the most vital need they have. So we’re also ready to ramp up our training capacity if they take appropriate steps to fill out their ranks.”

In recent weeks, Russian forces have seized territory at the fastest pace since 2022, raising concerns in Washington. Administration officials say that pushing weapons into Ukraine at the end of their term could give Kiev some breathing room, but are urging Ukraine to expand their army beyond the 160,000 recruits Kiev claims it needs.

One US official said, “The munitions gap may not be completely closed between Ukraine and Russia, but it’s gotten a whole lot better. But on the manpower side, it’s just a question of math and physics,” adding that he was not trying to "accuse Ukraine of anything," calling it a "challenging issue" for them.

“But over the course of especially this last year, it’s just that they’re not mobilizing and training enough soldiers to replace battlefield losses," the official noted. 

US pushing Kiev to lower conscription age

Related News

US travel industry loses $1B amid prolonged government shutdown

Trump open to attending Gaza ceasefire deal ceremony in ME: Rubio

The United States is urgin Ukraine to lower its minimum conscription age from 25 to 18, citing a need for more manpower to counter Russia's advances. However, this push has drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials who argue that existing logistical challenges and equipment shortages make such a move unreasonable.

Dmitry Litvin, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, condemned the proposal on Thursday, stating that Ukraine lacks sufficient weapons to arm its current troops.

"It does not make sense to see calls for Ukraine to lower the mobilization age, presumably in order to draft more people, when we can see that previously announced equipment is not arriving on time," Litvin wrote on X, adding that "Ukraine cannot be expected to compensate for delays in logistics or hesitation in support with the youth of our men on the front line."

Ukrainian forces have used US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, and in response, Russia launched the Oreshnik nuclear-capable missile and updated its nuclear policy.

Ukrainian troops report leadership failures amid rising desertions

Ukrainian forces are facing severe losses and an increase in desertions within the special operation zone, with soldiers voicing frustration over unreliable commanders and insufficient equipment, according to the Financial Times.

“We arrived [in Ugledar] with just automatic rifles. They said there would be 150 tanks; there were 20 ... and nothing to cover us,” a Ukrainian officer said, as quoted by FT.

The report highlighted that hundreds of soldiers from a Ukrainian unit in Ugledar fled due to a critical lack of weapons.

Desertions in the first 10 months of this year have outpaced those of the previous two years combined, underscoring Kiev’s mounting challenges in replenishing frontline troops as Russian forces maintain steady advances.

Between January and October 2024, Ukrainian prosecutors initiated 60,000 cases against soldiers for abandoning their posts—nearly double the total from 2022 and 2023 combined.

Recently, President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Ukraine's international sponsors for failing to adequately equip the country's military brigades.

  • United States
  • The Washington Post
  • Russia
  • Ukraine aid
  • Kiev
  • military aid
  • Ukraine
  • Ukraine war
  • Donald Trump
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
Al-Quds Brigades strike a command and control center north of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, in an undated screengrab from the al-Quds Brigades military media

Gaza resistance announces major operations against Israeli forces

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Retired Israeli General Brik says Israel has reached point of no return.
Politics

Retired Israeli General Brik: 'Israel has reached point of no return'

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation
Politics

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation

Gaza’s newborns gasp for life as hospitals collapse amid Israeli war
Health

Gaza newborns gasp for life, share oxygen masks amid collapsed system

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls
Politics

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS