Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered the largest military conscription in Russia since 2011, signaling a significant expansion of Russian armed forces amid stalled peace negotiations with Ukraine and mounting international pressure.
The Kremlin decree aims to enlist 160,000 men between the ages of 18 and 30 from April through July 2025. The move comes as the war with Ukraine drags into its third year with no clear resolution in sight and as military losses on both sides continue to mount.
The draft order marks the most sweeping conscription since Russia called up 200,000 troops in 2011, and follows a series of smaller mobilizations in 2023 and 2024.
READ: Trump Is ‘Pis*ed Off’ At Putin, Threatens Harsh Tariffs On Russian Oil
The development prompted a sharp response from President Donald Trump, who told NBC News on Sunday that he was “pissed off” at Putin for delaying meaningful progress in peace negotiations.
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump said in the interview.
The threat of secondary sanctions could have significant implications for global energy markets, as Russia remains one of the world’s largest oil exporters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed Trump’s frustrations in remarks made on March 27, accusing Russia of “not being ready” for a ceasefire and urging the United States to apply “strong pressure” on the Kremlin to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
READ: U.S. Played Larger-Than-Reported Role In Ukraine’s Battlefield Success Against Russia
The most recent sign of progress came on March 25, when Russia agreed to a temporary ceasefire for commercial maritime vessels in the Black Sea—a narrow measure that has done little to ease the broader conflict.
The announcement of the expanded draft highlights the intense attrition faced by Russian forces. Western intelligence agencies estimate that over 100,000 Russian soldiers have died since the start of the invasion in February 2022, though exact figures remain uncertain.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces, bolstered by Western weapons and advisors, have made only incremental gains since pushing back Russian troops from areas near Kyiv in the early months of the war. The front lines have largely stabilized, with both sides entrenched and battling for inches.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the new Russian conscription order during a press briefing Tuesday, affirming the administration’s concern over escalating Russian mobilization and a lack of commitment to diplomacy.
“The president has made clear that there will be consequences if Russia continues to obstruct peace efforts and prolong this conflict,” Leavitt said.
The conscription decree underscores Putin’s intent to sustain — and potentially escalate — Russia’s war effort, even as diplomatic windows narrow. It also sets the stage for renewed scrutiny of the Kremlin’s domestic policies, including growing dissent over prolonged war and forced mobilization.
With new tariffs on the table and tensions rising across Europe, international observers warn the next few months could prove pivotal in determining whether diplomacy or deepening conflict defines the future of Eastern Europe.
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