UK and Nato urged to consider conscription as world leaders gather in Kyiv to mark Ukraine war anniversary

Britain and its Nato allies have been urged to consider introducing conscription to bolster defences against the Russian threat.

Latvia’s foreign minister Krisjanis Karins made the suggestion on Friday as world leaders come together to mark the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“We think it’s a very good idea for us and I think other Nato allies could consider it as well,” he said.

Lativa is in the process of reintroducing its draft system, two decades after scrapping it to help the army achieve 61,000 members. The UK’s last conscription soldiers left the army in 1963.

Mr Karins added: “The point of the draft is to beef up capable, equipped and trained reservists.

“It’s not replacing the professional army. It’s augmenting the professional army.”

US generals join Ukrainian counterparts in Lviv (via REUTERS)

Western leaders descended on Kyiv on Saturday to mark the event, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau in attendance.

They arrived shortly after a Russian drone attack struck a residential building in the southern city of Odesa, killing at least one person. Three women also sustained severe burns in the attack Friday evening on a residential building, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on his social media account. Rescue services are still combing rubble looking for survivors.

Also on Saturday, Grant Shapps has said he is “concerned” about the passage of aid to Ukraine through US congress.

The British defence secretary spoke out as the bill faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives, where hard-line Republicans aligned with Donald Trump oppose the legislation.

“I am concerned about the money from the United States. We won’t get that money from Congress by telling them, come on, you’ve just got to come and support Europe,” he told BBC Breakfast.

“We’ll get that money by I think saying it is in your self-interest America, because others are watching. A more assertive China is watching.”

The UK Parliament is united in its support for Ukraine, Mr Shapps added, as he joined fellow Tory Lord Cameron in expression concern about US commitment to the cause.

“Parliament can be divided over all sorts of things but we are not in our support for Ukraine,” he said.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni arriving in Kyiv (Palazzo Chigi press office/AFP v)

The foreign leaders are in Ukraine to express solidarity as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and weaponry and Western aid hangs in the balance.”More than ever we stand firmly by Ukraine. Financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country is finally free,” von der Leyen tweeted after she arrived in Kyiv.Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven leading economies, announced that the group’s heads of state and government will meet virtually on Saturday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participating as well, and would adopt a joint statement on Ukraine.Under Meloni, Italy has been a strong supporter of Ukraine. Saturday’s virtual meeting marks the first top-level G7 gathering of the Italian presidency; G7 heads of state and government are expected to meet in person in southern Puglia in June for their annual summit.A somber mood hangs over Ukraine as the war against Russia enters its third year and Kyiv’s troops face mounting challenges on the front line amid dwindling ammunition supplies and personnel challenges. Its troops recently withdrew from the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka, handing Moscow one of its biggest victories.

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