Ukraine ambassador on President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Putin
WASHINGTON (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation Sunday about President Donald Trump continuing to push for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
When asked if she expects a ceasefire this week, Markarova said, "That's something that all Ukraine prays for President Trump to be effective and to have great results. And as you know, since the discussions here with President Trump, Ukraine agreed to full ceasefire, to partial ceasefires, to any type of ceasefires. Because again, let's remind everyone, Ukraine did not start this war."
During the interview, Brennan and Markarova talked about President Trump's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week in Alaska.
When asked if there's anything planned to bring Ukraine to the table, Markarova said:
"I can say sometimes diplomacy requires different formats, different meetings, and again, we appreciate President Trump, not only pushing for the end of this war, but as you saw, Vice President Vance has been in Europe, negotiating, discussing, having this very constructive meetings with our delegation, but also European leaders. Now, with regard to President Zelenskyy, he has been, since day one of this horrible aggression, committed to peace, and we have shown that he is ready to be anywhere to- to advance the agenda of peace. So if needed, President Zelenskyy, of course, will be present at the meetings. We have been very open about it, but let's see how this will go."
Brennan followed up by asking if Markarova was concerned that during the meeting, Putin's "going to try to talk his way into further land seizures," to which she said:
"President Putin lied in 2022 that he was not going to attack Ukraine. Then he lied a number of times since 2022 that it wasn't him who bombed Mariupol maternity hospital, or it wasn't him who abducts and kills, kidnaps, Ukrainian children and everything else. Now I'm positive that President Trump and everyone here in the United States, and we're so grateful to American people for all the support. They understand that the implications of how this war will end is so much bigger than just about Ukraine. It is existential for us. But the concept of buffer zones, or whatever, you know, the- this outdated, old concepts from the previous century, they do not work anymore. The front line in east and south of Ukraine is the front line between evil and good. And the question is, when that front line is going to be. Is it going to be on our territory? Is it going to be on our borders? Or is it going to be in Europe and everywhere, where it will affect Europe, U.S., and other. So, you know, we just have to- it's not just about land. It's about the principles and values. And judging by the recent decisions, including the sanctions on India for supporting Russia war machine, including on those sanctions that have been prepared, I am confident that U.S. will be coming from the position of strength, you know, peace through strength, and that will allow us, together, to find a solution to stop Russia's aggression."
To watch more of Brennan's interview with Markarova, click here.
