Latest news with #militaryconscription
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kiev's backers demanded Ukraine conscript 18-year-olds
Some of Kiev's Western backers demanded that Ukraine lower the age of military conscription to 18 in return for their support for stricter sanctions on Russia, Vladimir Zelensky has claimed. Manpower shortages in Ukraine's army have triggered a wave of forced conscription raids across the country which the public is increasingly opposing. In an interview with Hungarian daily Valasz Online on Tuesday, Zelensky acknowledged that mobilization remains a major issue. 'Mobilization is a problem in every war. Ukraine is no exception… People are tired,' he said, estimating that Kiev can mobilize 27,000 people a month. Despite his Western backers seeking it, Zelensky has opposed mandatory conscription of 18-year-olds. 'It is not the number of people that matters, but weapons and technology,' he said, adding that the same is true for the scale of Western sanctions against Russia. 'At the same time, Western partners list the reasons why they did not decide on sanctions, saying Ukraine has not mobilized from the age of 18,' Zelensky stated. Kiev attempted to placate the Western countries demanding conscription of 18-year olds. 'We provided an opportunity for 18-24 year-olds to show that they too can serve if our partners want them to,' he said. 'Thousands are fighting on the front lines without proper weapons,' he said. Ukraine announced general mobilization in February 2022, barring most men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. In 2024, faced with mounting losses, the country lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25 and tightened mobilization rules. The forced draft campaign has resulted in numerous violent clashes between recruitment officers and potential conscripts. Kiev launched a new voluntary military recruitment campaign earlier this year, targeting men aged 18 to 24. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has called the program 'a one-way ticket,' suggesting that Ukraine is 'annihilating' its youth. Russian officials have long said that the West is ready to fight Moscow 'until the last Ukrainian.' Media reports have claimed that former-US President Joe Biden's staff attempted to pressure Kiev to reduce the draft age from 25 to 18. Former-Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned at the time that Ukraine would have to make 'hard decisions' on mobilization.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Netanyahu coalition threatened by conscription standoff with religious parties
Israel is facing a deepening political crisis that could soon bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, as one of its key ultra-Orthodox partners threatens to leave the government and back an opposition-led motion to dissolve parliament next week. Recent Israeli opinion polls indicate that Netanyahu's coalition would likely lose power if elections were held today. The crisis centers on long-standing tensions over military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men. While most Israelis are required to serve – three years for men, two for women – Haredi men have long been granted exemptions, a policy increasingly seen as untenable amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Haaretz political correspondent Amir Tibon said, "The real crisis shaking Netanyahu's coalition isn't just religion versus state – it's the war in Gaza, and who will be forced to fight it. Discrimination against those who serve in the military is one of the few issues that unites a vast majority of Israelis – and they want it to end." According to IDF estimates, there are approximately 60,000 ultra-Orthodox men of conscription age. "The crisis stems from the October 7 massacre," said Amit Segal, political correspondent for Israel's Channel 12. "Before the war, many Israelis already resented Haredi draft exemptions. Now, with the IDF short on soldiers, that anger has reached a boiling point." Segal said Netanyahu's coalition is currently eyeing Oct. 21, 2025, as a possible election date, but warned that if the ultra-Orthodox parties leave, early elections could become inevitable. "It's unlikely the ultra-Orthodox parties will topple the government – they're in their ideal coalition," he stated. "But if they do leave, elections in October are likely." In March, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the draft exemptions were unconstitutional and ordered the government to resolve the issue. But Netanyahu's coalition – which relies heavily on the 18 seats held by the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism – remains split. The Haredi parties are demanding new legislation that would enshrine the exemptions in law. Without it, they threaten to quit. If those parties walk, Netanyahu's coalition could collapse, Segal explained, "The prime minister has seven weeks until the Knesset enters a months-long recess and will fight to survive until then. But with a bill to dissolve the Knesset set to be presented next week, there's no guarantee he'll reach July 27 as prime minister." The bill, introduced by opposition party Yesh Atid, led by former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, is set for a vote on June 11. It needs 61 votes to pass – a number that could be reached if even a few coalition members defect. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has announced a political comeback with a new party, tentatively called "Bennett 2026." Israeli media polls suggest Bennett would win 24 to 28 seats if elections were held today, overtaking Netanyahu's Likud, which is projected to receive only 19 to 22 seats.
Free Malaysia Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
German defence minister considers return of military draft
Boris Pistorius said a new bill could come into force as soon as Jan 1, 2026. (AFP pic) FRANKFURT : Germany may consider reintroducing military conscription from as soon as next year if it does not attract enough volunteers for its armed forces, defence minister Boris Pistorius told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on Saturday. Part of the Nato alliance, Germany is looking to enhance its military strength following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but looks likely to fail to attract enough recruits. An additional 100,000 soldiers are needed in the coming years to meet Nato obligations, its armed forces have said. Its Conservatives, which lead a coalition in which Pistorius' Social Democrats (SPD) are junior partners, have revved up military spending and signalled openness to a compulsory service in the armed forces, which was abandoned in 2011. 'Our model is initially based on voluntary participation,' Pistorius said in an interview with the Sunday newspaper, which is already for sale on Saturdays. 'If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then we may decide to make it mandatory,' he added. A new bill to that extent could come into force as soon as Jan 1, 2026, he said. The SPD has always focused more on voluntary options to rebuild the military. Andreas Henne, commander of Germany's homeland security division, on Saturday also supported recruitment drives. 'We've taken the right path, but we now need to increase the pace,' Henne said in an interview with news site t-online. 'In terms of equipment, infrastructure expansion, and, above all, personnel.'
Reuters
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
German defence minister does not rule out return of military draft, he tells FAS
FRANKFURT, May 24 (Reuters) - Germany may consider reintroducing military conscription from as soon as next year if it does not attract enough volunteers for its armed forces, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on Saturday. Part of the NATO alliance, Germany is looking to enhance its military strength following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but looks likely to fail to attract enough recruits. An additional 100,000 soldiers are needed in the coming years to meet NATO obligations, its armed forces have said. Its Conservatives, which lead a coalition in which Pistorius' Social Democrats (SPD) are junior partners, have revved up military spending and signalled openness to a compulsory service in the armed forces, which was abandoned in 2011. "Our model is initially based on voluntary participation," Pistorius said in an interview with the Sunday newspaper, which is already for sale on Saturdays. "If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then we may decide to make it mandatory," he added. A new bill to that extent could come into force as soon as January 1, 2026, he said. The SPD has always focused more on voluntary options to rebuild the military. Andreas Henne, Commander of Germany's Homeland Security Division, on Saturday also supported recruitment drives. "We've taken the right path, but we now need to increase the pace," Henne said in an interview with news site t-online. "In terms of equipment, infrastructure expansion, and, above all, personnel."
