President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answered a question about a possible reduction in the mobilisation age, stressing that the priority is to provide existing brigades with the necessary equipment and resources. He made this statement on 14 January during a meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
The priority is manning the army
According to Zelenskyy, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have more than 100 combat brigades that need to be replenished with armoured vehicles, artillery and other equipment on a daily basis.
“Each of the brigades has equipment that needs constant repair. That is why there is always a certain lack of resources, and this is the main thing we focus on with our partners,” the Head of State stressed.
He added that protecting the military, providing them with modern weapons and knowledge should be a priority for international assistance.
Signals from partners
The President noted that Ukraine had received “signals” about the mobilisation age from representatives of the former US administration and some NATO countries. However, he stressed that before talking about increasing the number of military personnel, it is necessary to take care of the full provision of those who are already defending Ukraine.
Call for partners
Zelenskyy once again asked international partners to focus on providing the Ukrainian army with advanced equipment and weapons.
“The main thing is the security of our military. This is what our partners should provide the Ukrainian army with in the first place,” he said.
