The following is an interview transcript with Ukraine Ambassador Oksana Markarova in the US, which broadcast on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brainon” on 10 August 2025.
Margaret Brainan: Good morning, and welcome to “face the nation”. President Trump has decided to bring Vladimir Putin from the cold, which is ending the separation of the Russian leader and is an accused on the war criminal. He hopes that Putin should finally be persuaded to work that he has refused: ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Both leaders will meet in Alaska, which is another part of the former Russian Empire. With the future of European security on the line, Western leaders raced to get their promise, sent top advisors to meet Vice President Vance in the United Kingdom, and they are planning to call top diplomats yesterday. Meanwhile, President Trump is sending his messenger Keith Kelog to Ukraine, as President Zelancesi says that his country will not only “gift” to Russia. We start this morning with Ukraine ambassador with the United States, Oksana Markarova. You are good to come back here, ambassador.
Emb. Markarova: Good Morning America, and thank you for my being.
Margaret Brainon: Okay, President Zalensky has clarified that he is not only going to give land to Russia. Kiev is part of the dialogue, and he has said that a ceasefire needs to happen first. Do you expect a ceasefire this week?
Emb. Markarova: Well, this is something that all pray to the Ukraine President Trump to be effective and give great results. And as you know, since the discussion with President Trump here, Ukraine agreed to the complete ceasefire for a partial ceasefire for any kind of ceasefire. Because again, let’s remind everyone, Ukraine did not start this war. Putin launched the war in 2014, he continued with a complete invasion in 2022, and it is Ukrainian city, Ukrainian city, on the front lines on Ukrainian defenders, on the lines of Ukrainian children who suffer every day. So yes, we want Putin to stop, and we are really hoping that it is a push from President Trump, and the approval package that is on the table, and secondary restrictions that are already applicable against Russia’s help, will explain to President Putin that it is time for him to eventually stop their aggression.
Margaret Brainon: But President Trump blown the deadline to impose more ban on Russia and offered this meeting instead. We know that the White House says it is one with Vladimir Putin at Putin’s request, but is open to some type of tripartite meeting with President Zelanski. Is anything plans to be planned to bring Ukraine to the table?
Emb. Markarova: Well, Margaret, I can say that sometimes diplomacy requires different formats, separate meetings, and again, we appreciate President Trump, not only insist on the end of this war, but as you have seen, Vice President Wans has been in Europe, while talking, discussing, discussed with our delegates, but we have a lot Also with. Now, in relation to President Zalensky, he is committed to peace, from one day of this terrible aggression, and we have shown that he is ready to pursue the agenda of peace. Therefore, if necessary, the President Zelanceci, of course, will be present in the meetings. We are very open about it, but let’s see how it will happen.
Margaret Brainon: But he is not planning to be in Alaska on Friday?
Emb. Markarova: If he is planning to do so, we will stay there, but—-
Margaret Brainan: Yes. But you are waiting for it. We know that the messenger Keith Kelog is being sent to Kiev to talk with the Ukrainian government. So it is- what is his role here? Is he going to tell messages forward and back? What is it that needs to be interacted in Keev now?
Emb. Markarova: Well, special messenger Kelog has been a very important part of the American team that regularly works with us. Because, again, I mean, we are all focused on the upcoming summit, but there is much that we do together. Investment deal, not only we signed, but we are actually developing that strategic opportunity to cooperate between our countries on the economic front, arms provisions from the United States, but buying American weapons and producing together, you know, the Big Drone deal and other deals that our presidents discussed together. So there is a lot on our bilateral US-Ukraine agenda, which is, of course, all this time, is related to terrible war. But not only. Therefore, we are always happy to see Keith Kelog in Kyiv.
Margaret Brainon: But what we know from our reporting is that the messengers went to Vitcoof, Steve Vircoff, Moscow. They were described- they were described that there was a Russian idea for any kind of disposal of war, and it included carving parts of Ukraine. Then on Friday, President Trump publicly talked about what happened, and he said, President Zelanski would have to get everything they need to prepare, because quotation, “they are going to be ready to sign something, and I think he is working hard to do so.” What is he going to sign? What has been proposed?
Emb. Markarova: Special messenger Vitkoff is a special messenger on Russia, and he works with that counterpart, and we work with the vice -president, with Secretary Rubio, with Special Envoy Kelog, and with all teams, Secretary Besant and others on everything on our bilateral agenda. Now, President Zelancesi has been very clear: Ukraine is committed to peace. We will be very creative in all our discussions. At the same time, we have to accept the facts again, again. You know, this is Russia that attacked us. It is Russia that illegally captured Crimea and other areas since 2022. We have the constitution of the country’s main Bible, Ukraine, which clearly lists in Article 133 that is included in Ukraine and- and says what it involves. Now we all understand the reality on the ground, and we are ready to discuss, you know how to end this war. And that’s why the ceasefire, such as- such as- as a step, has always been so important to stop the murder, something that President Trump has put on the table in early February. So let’s stop- murders, and let’s get for diplomacy. This was always ready to do some Ukraine.
Margaret Brainon: You are pointing to your constitution because it is your point, the President cannot just give land. This is really known and it is to be considered how your constitution-
Emb. Markarova: The head of any country is a guarantor of the Constitution.
Margaret Brainon: The Constitution of Vladimir Putin, however, is now engaged in his constitution from his country in these areas.
Emb. Markarova: Yes. everyone knows. And 142 countries of the United Nations clearly voted that it was illegal, an unsafe step on its share, and the court in early March 2022, the international court has actually asked Russia to stop the so -called special military operations and exit the Ukrainian region.
Margaret Brainan: Russia has about 22% of the Ukrainian region, I believe, at this point. Are you worried that at the table of this conversation in Alaska, Vladimir Putin is going to try to talk in the visit of the ahead?
Emb. Markarova: Well, President Putin lied in 2022 that he was not going to attack Ukraine. He then lied several times since 2022 that it was not the one who bombed the Mariaupol Maternity Hospital, or it was not the one who kidnaps and kills, kidnaps, kidnaps, Ukrainian children and everything else. Now I am positive that President Trump and all here are in the United States, and we are very grateful to American people for all support. They understand how this war will end is much larger than Ukraine. It exists for us. But the concept of buffer zone, or whatever, you know, these old, old concepts from the last century, they no longer work. The front line in the east and south of Ukraine is the advance line between evil and good. And the question is when it is going to be a front line. Is it going to be on our region? Is it going to be on our borders? Or it is going to be Europe and everywhere, where it will affect Europe, America and others. So, you know, we just have- it’s not just about the land. It is about principles and values. And given the recent decisions, the Russia will include restrictions on India, including restrictions on India, to support the restrictions that are included on the restrictions prepared, I believe that we are coming from the status of strength, you know, peace through peace, and it will allow us to find a solution to prevent the aggression of Russia, together.
Margaret Brainon: Ambassador Markarova, thank you for your time today. We will come back right.
