Ukraine's war against Russia has now lasted longer than the United States' involvement in World War II. This was the categorical message delivered by the U.S. President's Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, during his visit to the capital, Kyiv. The visit, which coincided with the celebrations of Ukraine's Independence Day, was marked by an atmosphere of unwavering determination, but also by the weight of the prolonged conflict echoing throughout the city.
The War in Ukraine Exceeds U.S. Involvement in World War II
In his address to participants at the National Prayer Breakfast, Kellogg emphasized the scale of events that many have overlooked.
"People forget the duration of this war. This isn't four years. This is the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War," he stated.The comparison to the U.S. involvement in World War II provides a harsh and sobering context that illustrates the extraordinary resilience of the Ukrainian people. Kellogg recalled that while the U.S. actively entered the combat operations with the landings in Sicily, North Africa, and Normandy, Ukrainians have faced the brutal conflict for an even longer period.
"Ukrainians have been at war longer than we were in World War II," the American representative noted.
The Human Cost of the Conflict
Kellogg's analytical view of the conflict was not limited to the timeline. He also highlighted the monstrous human losses this aggressive war is causing. According to him, the scale of casualties on both sides—both Ukrainian and Russian—already exceeds the total number of American soldiers killed in World War II. This fact not only underscores the devastating nature of the Russian invasion but also provides another reason to reflect on its cruelty and senselessness.
International Support and the Quest for Peace
In his message, Kellogg expressed his confidence that it is the people who have experienced the horrors and destruction of war who are most determined to put an end to the violence. This observation reflects a deep understanding of the human cost of the conflict and the strong impulse for peace that arises from direct experience with suffering. Keith Kellogg's visit, as reported by Ukrinform, underscores not only international support for Ukraine but also the critical realization that the war, caused by the Kremlin's aggressive policy, is the most significant and prolonged military conflict on European soil in decades.