The Biden administration is encouraging Ukraine to lower its draft age to conscript 18-year-olds.

The Biden administration is urging Ukraine to lower its draft age to conscript 18-year-olds to keep up with Russia's growing military, three years after Russia's full-scale invasion.

According to a senior Biden administration official, the situation in Ukraine requires lowering the draft age from the current 25 to increase its understaffed military force.

An official, speaking anonymously, stated that Ukraine is struggling to recruit and train enough soldiers to replace its losses and keep up with Russia's increasing military strength.

In April, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law to reduce the military conscription age from 27 to 25 in an effort to replenish its depleted ranks.

While some Ukrainians are concerned that lowering the minimum conscription age could harm the country's already struggling economy, Ukrainian officials view the U.S.'s push for this change as part of a Western effort to divert attention from their own delays in providing weapons and other aid.

Despite the presence of over 1 million Ukrainian soldiers, officials have stated that an additional 160,000 troops are needed to maintain a competitive edge on the battlefield.

The Biden administration believes that Ukraine's manpower shortage is a more pressing issue than the need for military equipment.

The White House National Security Council spokesman, Sean Savett, stated that the administration will continue to provide Ukraine with weapons but believes that manpower is the most critical requirement for Ukraine.

Savett stated that they are prepared to increase their training capacity if the necessary steps are taken to fill their ranks.

Since the start of Russia's February 2022 invasion, the White House has provided more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine and plans to send billions more before Biden's term ends in less than two months.

When President-elect Trump assumes office on Jan. 20, 2025, he intends to put an end to the war quickly. However, there are concerns that he may not maintain Ukraine's military support.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.