The next is the transcript of the interview with Olga Stefanishyna, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 23, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by the Ukrainian Ambassador to america Olga Stefanishyna. Welcome to Face The Nation.
UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR OLGA STEFANISHYNA: Welcome, Margaret, howdy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I perceive this can be a very intense week to your nation for various causes, together with the diplomacy that is occurring proper now as we sit right here in Geneva. Your president mentioned Ukraine faces a alternative between shedding its dignity or shedding a key ally, america. What has been agreed to at this level?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly as- as it’s identified, the session are nonetheless ongoing between Ukraine and the American officers. That is Secretary of State Rubio, and in addition Secretary of Military Driscoll, who arrived just a little bit earlier. These consultations are nonetheless proceed on the premise of the proposal of the American aspect on 28 level peace plan, as it has been referred to as right here. And European allies are additionally current in Geneva as of late to work hand in hand with the Ukrainian delegation, but additionally with the American delegation to debate the proposals on our and on their aspect. So the consultations are nonetheless ongoing, however there was various factors which have been already extensively mentioned in public.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you conscious of Russia making any concessions at this level?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly, it doesn’t appear this fashion from the proposal which is on the desk. Actually- the truth is, not one of the factors are literally associated to- to forcing something on the Russian aspect. After all, it is acknowledged that it is- it’s aggression. There may be various factors associated to return of hostages and- and prisoners of struggle, of a humanitarian nation. However that is undoubtedly not in regards to the justice. This plan isn’t in regards to the justice and the reality of this struggle and- and the aggression. It is about, you understand, ending the struggle and stopping the army engagement.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is unfair to Ukraine, you are saying.
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly once more, I believe this ought to be divided. This plan isn’t about justice, you understand, and this plan is about various actions proposed as a part of estimated settlement between Ukraine and probably Russian Federation. Ukraine is in intensive engagement in a really constructive method with the American aspect and below the umbrella of U.S. management, these discussions are ongoing, and we consider that the honest peace isn’t the phrases, however that is one thing that ought to be placed on paper. So, sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you ever been instructed that america will lower off army and intelligence sharing if President Zelenskyy does not conform to this plan by Thursday?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: I believe it’s- it’s very unfair to- to American colleagues and companions to cite this or that statements which have been weighed- which have been executed in course of, you understand, varied conferences and telephone calls. There was fairly a number of, you understand, we had a primary senior army go to to Ukraine by Secretary of Military Driscoll since- since we gained the independence in 1991. And I had a gathering with him as properly right here in Washington. And his position is extremely- extraordinarily clear to us. We additionally had an engagement between president and vice chairman on a telephone name. There was, like, numerous discussions. A few of them have been extra emotional. Some were- them have been much less emotional, however right here we’re. We’re sitting collectively and on the lookout for an answer to finish the struggle, and Russia isn’t a part of this course of formally.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the- the Wall Avenue Journal is reporting that along with these 28 factors, there is a separate doc that has to do with safety ensures. I’ve additionally been instructed that there is a separate doc with safety ensures.
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Journal is reporting that it is 10 years of assist, however it does not commit the U.S. to supply direct army help. What ensures would you like from america?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly, there’s a separate doc referred to as the framework, like of the safety assurances from america. So this isn’t the settlement. This isn’t the treaty. This isn’t the- the- the formal or detailed format of what safety ensures is. That’s the like doc specifying the intention that U.S. authorities is dedicated to offering safety assurances, that are like one thing just like the Article 5 of the Washington NATO Treaty. So it’s- it is nonetheless very completely different, and it specifies it has been in a public entry so it has been publicly leaked as properly, so, that U.S. will arise along with the allies, in case of the Russian aggression from the territory of the Russian Federation. I believe we should always not overlook that the Russian aggression began, the truth is, from Belarusian territory. So that they’re, like, numerous nuances, and that is to be mentioned.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Oh, I see. So that you’re saying you desire a clear safety assure that claims in case you’re invaded, or in case you’re attacked, together with by surrounding international locations which can be Russian proxies. You need America to say that it’ll come to Ukraine’s protection?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Yeah, completely. We will actually talk about safety assurances the place we now have, like the actual doc in entrance of our eyes and what’s actually vital that we had- we’re very difficult accomplice for U.S., as a result of we additionally had numerous completely different unhappy experiences, like Budapest Memorandum the place we gave up nuclear weapons that we had, one other of various conditions the place we now have realized our classes and we face the aggression for 3 and a half 12 months and we realized.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I’ve to ask you. U.S. and European officers inform me that the trajectory on the battlefield for Ukraine isn’t good, significantly in that key industrial metropolis of Pokrovsk —
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: — Pokrovsk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Pokrovsk. And that Russia will doubtless take management of this, and that that is kind of a gateway to the japanese half, that the Donbas. How do you reply to the argument that Ukraine is shedding on the battlefield and that that you must negotiate now?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly, Ukraine is likely one of the largest European international locations, and on the common, inside one week, there are greater than 1,000 fight engagements occurring on all of the entrance line, and Russia is making an attempt to current that it is solely occurring in Pokrovsk, proper? So this can be a victorious narrative Russia is utilizing as a techniques of pressuring or altering the fact additionally right here in america. That is why I imply Pokrovsk is an important spot on the entrance line, however undoubtedly not the one one.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, thanks to your time this morning. We’ll be proper again.
