Bolton calls on Ukraine to lower the conscription age to 18: what else the former Trump advisor recommended.

According to ТСН: John Bolton, the former national security advisor to US President Donald Trump, shared his "friendly advice" for Ukraine. He urged the Ukrainian authorities to fight corruption more actively and to lower the conscription age from 25 to 18 to expand mobilization resources.

Advice on mobilization and equitable burden distribution

Bolton noted that lowering the conscription age would allow for a more equitable distribution of the burden of war among citizens.

"I think — this is advice from a friend — I think they (Ukraine, — ed.) need to lower the conscription age from 25 to 18 to get more strength on the battlefield and ensure that the country as a whole bears an equal burden of this war," the former advisor stated.

Fighting corruption and elections

Commenting on the internal political situation, John Bolton emphasized the need for Ukraine to more actively demonstrate its efforts to combat corruption. Regarding possible elections during martial law, he highlighted that national elections in conditions where about 20% of the territory is occupied are impossible. However, he did not rule out the possibility of local elections in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government.

Bolton also noted that Ukraine, like Great Britain during World War II, has strong arguments to defend its actions.

It should be recalled that President Volodymyr Zelensky insists that Ukraine should not lower the mobilization age. According to Ukrainian legislation, only men aged 25 and over are mobilized into the army. At the same time, US officials and other Western allies advocate lowering the conscription age, while Zelensky emphasizes the importance of having weapons and missiles instead of increasing the number of soldiers.

Earlier, Ukraine considered the possibility of lowering the mobilization age to 23. A lawyer explained how long this might take.

Thus, John Bolton's advice opens an important discussion about mobilization strategies and combating corruption in Ukraine. The developments highlight how crucial it is to find a balance between ensuring the country's security and administrative reforms that promote stability and public trust in the authorities.