Kellogg hopes Ukraine will celebrate peace next year, says war is easier than peace
Photo: US President's Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg expressed hope that next year, Ukraine would be able to celebrate Independence Day under a peaceful sky, according to his remarks at the prayer breakfast.
He recalled that the previous week, there had been a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. According to him, following that meeting, Trump held talks in the Oval Office’s West Wing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.
Kellogg said that during that gathering, seven representatives of European countries had the chance to discuss current issues with the US president. He stressed that this was a difficult task that had required much effort, and described Trump as “a president of peace” who wanted to end death and destruction.
According to Kellogg, work on the peace process was ongoing. He noted that it was difficult, but there was hope of reaching a situation in the near future where security guarantees could be achieved, emphasizing that this effort was still continuing.
He underlined that the matter involved Ukraine’s military capabilities, as well as political and diplomatic constraints.
When all these factors were taken together, he said, a clearer picture emerged. He added that people tended to forget how long the war had already lasted, pointing out that it was now the fourth year.
Kellogg stressed that this is the largest war in Europe since World War II. Referring to US involvement, he recalled battles in Sicily, Africa, and Normandy, urging people to remember how much it had cost, including in lives. He drew a parallel to the current situation, noting the high number of casualties.
The number of killed and wounded now exceeds that of World War II, he said. He also called on people to think about the scale of destruction and losses caused by the war. He emphasized that this was what President Trump spoke about, portraying him as an extraordinary man and a supporter of peace. Kellogg expressed hope that Ukraine would already be free and peaceful by the next Independence Day.
He also stated that he paid tribute to the role played by everyone working toward peace, calling the task extraordinary. In this context, he mentioned not only Trump but also French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Kellogg remarked that Trump recognized this, too. He admitted that although it was not easy to say, in reality, it was simpler to wage war than to achieve peace. It was easy to start a war, he said, but much harder to end it. He concluded by saying that this was what they were currently working on.
Kellogg arrived in Ukraine yesterday, on Independence Day, and took part in the holiday celebrations.
This was not his first visit to Ukraine — he was last in the country in July, leaving on the 16th. That trip was relatively long and was remembered for the fact that while Kellogg was in Kyiv, the enemy refrained from launching massive attacks on the capital.
The current visit is taking place amid US efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine. The allies are discussing possible security guarantees for Ukraine.
A key issue remains whether a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia can be arranged, as despite Kyiv’s readiness and the Trump administration’s attempts to organize such a summit, the Kremlin has shown no genuine willingness to negotiate at the highest level.
Read more about these events in the article Zelenskyy in Washington, Putin hesitates: Highlights from peace talks week.
