Russia removes age restriction for new troops

Amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Russia has removed the age restriction for professional military, allowing more civilian professionals to be recruited to help in "the special military operation".

President Vladimir Putin has signed a measure allowing persons over the age of 40 to join the military. They are expected to be people in their normal working years.

As per previous guidelines, Russians had to be 18-40 years old to join the army, while foreigners had to be 18-30 years old to get themselves enlisted for recruitment.

Specialists are necessary to operate high-precision weapons, says the new regulation, adding that "experience demonstrates that they become such by the age of 40-45." It's possible that more medics, engineers, and communications professionals will also be hired in the fresh recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Russian armed forces.

On March 25, Russia announced a total of 1,351 deaths in the Ukraine conflict, which it has not updated since.

For what Russia refers to as its "special military operation" in Ukraine, President Putin has avoided large-scale conscription.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During the meet Putin told both the leaders that arming Ukraine was "hazardous," warning of the "risks of further destabilisation of the current situation and worsening of the humanitarian crisis," according to the Kremlin.

According to the report, Putin also stated that he was willing to explore for ways to movement of the grain stuck in Ukrainian ports during Moscow's military operation.

"Russia is ready to assist in the development of possibilities for unrestricted grain export, including the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports," the Kremlin stated.

Negotiations between the Ukraine and Russia, which are "locked due to Kyiv's fault," were given "special attention," according to the Kremlin "Vladimir Putin reaffirmed the Russian side's willingness to resume dialogue."