KYIV — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called on Ukrainian lawmakers Monday to quickly pass a mobilization bill that would make more citizens eligible to be drafted into the military, and he sharply questioned exempting men under 27 from the fight.

As he issued his advice on the draft, Graham, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, could offer no true assurances about the pending aid package, instead telling reporters that he is “more optimistic than I’ve ever been that something will get out of the House pretty soon.”

Ukraine is already short of soldiers and ammunition, and Russia is advancing on the battlefield, having recently seized the eastern city of Avdiivka after a Ukrainian retreat.

He also urged Ukrainians not to base their decisions to join the military on whether the United States continues to support them.

In a statement after their meeting Monday, Zelensky said it is “critically important” that Congress reaches a decision on support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops have long complained of a shortage of 155 millimeter artillery shells — a deficit Graham acknowledged Monday.

The original article contains 602 words, the summary contains 180 words. Saved 70%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!