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, good day.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I perceive it is a very intense week in your nation for various causes, together with the diplomacy that’s occurring proper now as we sit right here in Geneva. Your president stated Ukraine faces a alternative between dropping its dignity or dropping a key ally, america. What has been agreed to at this level?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Effectively as- as it’s recognized, 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 idea of the proposal of the American aspect on 28 level peace plan, because it’s been known as right here. And European allies are additionally current in Geneva nowadays to work hand in hand with the Ukrainian delegation, but in addition 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: Effectively, it doesn’t appear this fashion from the proposal which is on the desk. In actual fact- actually, not one of the factors are literally associated to- to forcing something on the Russian aspect. In fact, it’s acknowledged that it is- it’s aggression. There’s various factors associated to return of hostages and- and prisoners of warfare, of a humanitarian nation. However that is positively not in regards to the justice. This plan just isn’t in regards to the justice and the reality of this warfare and- and the aggression. It’s about, you already know, ending the warfare and stopping the navy engagement.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s unfair to Ukraine, you’re saying.
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Effectively once more, I believe this must be divided. This plan just isn’t about justice, you already know, and this plan is about various actions proposed as a part of estimated settlement between Ukraine and doubtlessly Russian Federation. Ukraine is in intensive engagement in a really constructive manner with the American aspect and underneath the umbrella of U.S. management, these discussions are ongoing, and we imagine that the honest peace just isn’t the phrases, however that is one thing that must be placed on paper. So, sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you ever been advised that america will reduce off navy and intelligence sharing if President Zelenskyy doesn’t comply with this plan by Thursday?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: I believe it’s- it’s completely 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 already know, numerous conferences and cellphone calls. There was fairly just a few, you already know, we had a primary senior navy 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 effectively right here in Washington. And his function is extremely- extraordinarily clear to us. We additionally had an engagement between president and vice chairman on a cellphone name. There was, like, quite a lot of 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 warfare, and Russia just isn’t a part of this course of formally.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, the- the Wall Avenue Journal is reporting that along with these 28 factors, there’s a separate doc that has to do with safety ensures. I’ve additionally been advised that there’s a separate doc with safety ensures.
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Journal is reporting that it’s 10 years of assist, however it doesn’t commit the U.S. to offer direct navy help. What ensures would you like from america?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Effectively, there’s a separate doc known 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’s nonetheless very totally different, and it specifies it’s been in a public entry so it’s been publicly leaked as effectively, so, that U.S. will get up 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, actually, from Belarusian territory. In order that they’re, like, quite a lot of nuances, and that is to be mentioned.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Oh, I see. So that you’re saying you need a clear safety assure that claims in the event you’re invaded, or in the event you’re attacked, together with by surrounding international locations which might be Russian proxies. You need America to say that it’ll come to Ukraine’s protection?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Yeah, completely. We are able to actually talk about safety assurances the place we’ve, like the true doc in entrance of our eyes and what’s actually essential that we had- we’re very sophisticated companion for U.S., as a result of we additionally had quite a lot of totally different unhappy experiences, like Budapest Memorandum the place we gave up nuclear weapons that we had, one other of various conditions the place we’ve discovered our classes and we face the aggression for 3 and a half yr and we discovered.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I’ve to ask you. U.S. and European officers inform me that the trajectory on the battlefield for Ukraine just 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 dropping on the battlefield and that it’s good to negotiate now?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Effectively, Ukraine is among 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’s solely occurring in Pokrovsk, proper? So it is a victorious narrative Russia is utilizing as a techniques of pressuring or altering the truth additionally right here in america. That’s why I imply Pokrovsk is an important spot on the entrance line, however positively not the one one.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, thanks in your time this morning. We’ll be proper again.
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