Russian President Vladimir Putin could end the war in Ukraine immediately if he chose to, according to former US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, who argues that sustained international pressure is required to force a resolution.
Military Stalemate and Russian Casualties
Kellogg stated during his interview that Russian forces have failed to achieve their primary strategic objectives in the invasion, noting that the military was unable to capture Kyiv and Kharkiv or cross the Dnipro River. He suggested that Putin could declare victory at any moment and order troops home, though he emphasized that Ukraine remains steadfast against territorial concessions.
Outlining the human cost of the conflict, Kellogg reported that the Russian army loses approximately 30,000 soldiers every month. To put that attrition rate into perspective, he compared it to the Soviet-Afghan War, during which roughly 18,000 Soviet troops died across the span of that conflict. Beyond the front lines, Kellogg highlighted that Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory are generating severe problems for the Kremlin.
The Role of Beijing and Economic Pressures
External support remains a vital lifeline for Moscow’s war effort, with Kellogg singling out Beijing’s backing as a primary driver that allows Russia to sustain military operations. He maintained that applying greater pressure on China could help force an end to the fighting.
Domestically, Russian consumers face rising everyday costs. Videos circulating on social media show shoppers documenting price spikes in staple items. One resident compared instant noodles that cost roughly 36 rubles in August to a new price of 54 rubles, while a specific brand of pasta climbed from 29 to 52 rubles. Another shopper noted paying 194 rubles for a kilogram of apples and 145 rubles for bananas, with another customer spending roughly 10,000 rubles on basic household and hygiene goods. While these unverified social media clips do not point to a universal doubling of prices nationwide, official Russian statistics likewise record a price increase.
International Sports Sanctions and Diplomatic Pushback
In Brussels, European Union officials are weighing fresh restrictions on Russian and Belarusian participation in international sports, alongside tighter controls on funding flows to sporting organizations. The European Commission’s actions follow a July move by Latvia to back an Estonian initiative urging the European Commission to withhold funding from the International Olympic Committee and sports-related programs over the reinstatement of Russian athletes.
European Commissioner Glenn Mikalef expressed support for the Baltic initiative in a formal response letter, emphasizing the necessity of solidarity with Ukraine. Daiga Reihmane, an advisor to Latvian Education and Science Minister Ilze Indriksone (NA), noted that support for Kyiv was discussed at an EU summit. European Council conclusions from June state that Moscow’s participation in international sports and cultural events cannot be normalized until a just and lasting peace is established in Ukraine.
The EU’s Political and Security Committee continues to debate broader sanctions affecting athletic participation, the display of national symbols, and financial transactions to prevent funds from reaching aggressor states. The EU Foreign Affairs Council is scheduled to take up these proposed restrictions during its October meeting.
Keith Kellogg on Russian casualties and ending the war
What did Keith Kellogg say about ending the war?
Keith Kellogg stated on Fox Business that Vladimir Putin could end the war in Ukraine tomorrow if he wanted to by declaring victory and ordering troops home, but argued that increased pressure on Moscow and its backers is necessary.
How many casualties does Russia suffer monthly according to Kellogg?
Kellogg estimated that the Russian military loses roughly 30,000 soldiers per month, contrasting this figure with the approximately 18,000 total Soviet troops who died during the entire war in Afghanistan.
What new sanctions are being discussed at the European Union level?
EU bodies are discussing new limits on Russian and Belarusian participation in international sports, restrictions on the use of national symbols, and controls on sports-related financial flows to prevent funds from aiding the aggressor states.
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