A senior U.S. envoy involved in efforts to end Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has displayed a lack of basic understanding of Ukraine's political system and the war itself while speaking to reporters, the Kyiv Independent has learned. The official went further, inaccurately claiming that Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has lasted longer than World War II. Trump's envoys tasked with resolving Russia's war lack traditional diplomatic backgrounds, a departure from past U.S. practice. "This is a serious problem," Merezhko told the Kyiv Independent. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer told the Kyiv Independent that the U.S. official also lacks experienced advisors on Russia and Ukraine.