The Biden administration is unhappy with Ukraine's President for refusing to lower the draft age to 18, according to The Telegraph.

The refusal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to lower the conscription age in Ukraine to 18 has strained his relations with the administration of Joe Biden. This is reported by The Telegraph.

It is noted that over nearly three years of war, there have been numerous disputes between the two leaders, but the disagreement that began to unfold last week could be the one that “brings an end to them all.”

In recent weeks, American officials have quietly urged their Ukrainian counterparts to draft men aged 18 and older to the front lines. Washington claims that the manpower shortage has reached a critical stage due to the advance of Russian forces, and Donald Trump may halt military support for Kyiv when he takes office in January. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a clear message from Washington.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also weighed in on the matter, stating that “it is clear that we must ensure there are enough people in Ukraine.”

When Blinken announced that the U.S. would be ready to arm and train new brigades, Zelensky responded by saying that “Putin fears only Trump and possibly China.”

He also warned the Biden administration that “the priority should be providing missiles and reducing Russia's military capabilities, not the conscription age in Ukraine.”

The article further adds that due to the age structure of the population in Ukraine, the group aged 18-25 is significantly smaller compared to older generations, which poses a future demographic risk.

Previously, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that allies are ready to provide the necessary equipment for Ukrainian recruits if the Ukrainian authorities decide to expand mobilization.