Prabowo: Ukraine War Could Last Longer Than World War I and II
President Prabowo Subianto has addressed the ongoing challenges of global geopolitics, including several active conflicts, noting that the current world situation is extremely volatile. “We are still facing what I warned about during my first meetings at the start of my administration; I have been everywhere and I have already issued warnings that the global geopolitical situation is very, very precarious,” Prabowo stated during a briefing with leaders of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (31/07/2026).
Prabowo cited the war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing since 2022, as a primary example. He compared the duration of this conflict to World War II, which lasted approximately four and a half to five years. “Great wars are happening everywhere. In the European continent, there is a major war. This war in Ukraine has already lasted longer than World War I. It may even last longer than World War II. World War II began in September 1939 and ended in mid-May 1945, lasting about five years. The Ukraine war began in 2’22; we have gone through ’22, ’23, ’24, ’25, and have entered ’26. The Ukraine war might also be longer than World War II,” he remarked.
He noted that millions have fallen victim to the conflict, and its impact is felt far beyond the warring nations, affecting the global economy, including food prices and fuel costs. “Millions are already victims, and we are only now realising that a war in one part of the earth has an influence everywhere, on food prices, fuel prices, and so on,” he said.
According to Prabowo, the global situation is becoming increasingly complex as the conflict in the Middle East expands while the Ukraine war remains unresolved. He referenced the escalation in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as tensions involving Iran in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which he believes could persist for a long time. “Before the Ukraine war is finished, the situation in Gaza, Lebanon, and the Middle East has erupted even more severely. In the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the situation with Iran is not yet resolved and will likely continue for quite some time. Furthermore, we cannot underestimate the danger of nuclear war, either in Ukraine or the Middle East,” he added.
Additionally, Prabowo highlighted security situations within Southeast Asia. He noted that ASEAN, traditionally known as a peaceful region, faces challenges due to the civil war in Myanmar and rising tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s stance in continuing to support peace efforts in all nations.