Donald Trump and the conflict in Ukraine, by Thierry Meyssan
Voltaire NetworkFEB 5
Ukraine Unveils Military Contracts to Entice Younger Recruits
Above: Ukrainian soldiers from the 5th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, equipped with Leopard 1A5 tanks, operating in the Kurakhove and Pokrovsk directions in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, on Feb. 9, 2025. Image copyright: Oleksandr Klymenko/Contributor/Ukrinform/NurPhotovia Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This new contract by Ukraine gives younger recruits who volunteer to serve their country the opportunities to gain new experiences — including professional combat training to NATO standards — for decent financial rewards. It also includes a range of benefits such as zero-percent mortgages and education at the state's expense.
Establishment-critical narrative
This move may try to increase troop numbers but it's a stab in the back of Ukraine's seasoned service members, some of whom have survived nearly three years of war. Where are their guarantees for social protection and financial contribution for all they have done?