President Joe Biden’s administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of troops as young as 18.

The United States is urging Ukraine to “look hard” at removing policy mandates that limit the nation to drafting soldiers aged 25 and up, a senior administration official told The Hill on Wednesday. They’ve suggested lowering the age to 18,

Ukraine has taken steps to broaden the pool of draft-eligible men, but the efforts have only scratched the surface against a much larger Russian military.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is preparing a $725 million weapons package for Ukraine, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday, as the outgoing president seeks to bolster the government in Kyiv before leaving office in January.

The new aid package would include landmines, drones, Stinger missiles, and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), an official familiar with the plan told Reuters.

The proposed funds, which are aimed at avoiding a disruption in support during a change of administration, could be included in a package of decisions to avert a government shutdown next month. The allocation includes $8 billion for contracts with American companies to supply arms to Ukraine and $16 billion to replenish the US weapons stockpile.