On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado
- Fiona Hill, former senior director for Europe and Russia on the Nationwide Safety Council
- Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska
- José Andrés, chef and founding father of World Central Kitchen
Click on right here to browse full transcripts from 2025 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: After President Trump’s Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin, we’ll go one-on-one with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Following the Russian president’s heat welcome to Alaska and a three-hour assembly that ended abruptly, President Trump adopts Putin’s street map for ending the conflict in Ukraine, no cease-fire, however negotiations for an enduring peace within the 3.5-year battle.
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of america): I believe the assembly was a ten within the sense that we bought alongside nice. And it is good when two massive powers get alongside.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: However what in regards to the different international locations, like Ukraine and its Western allies, who’re nonetheless tightly aligned?
Together with Rubio, we’ll hear from Trump’s former Nationwide Safety Council Russia professional Fiona Hill, Alaska Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, and Colorado Democrat Jason Crow.
Plus, World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres will be part of us following his journey to Gaza.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and different European leaders are heading to Washington Monday to satisfy with President Trump to debate subsequent steps following Mr. Trump’s assembly with Vladimir Putin. The awkward conclusion to Friday’s summit yielded no formal settlement, with Vladimir Putin nonetheless insisting that Ukraine flip over the lands seized by Russia within the conflict, plus extra territory, one thing that President Zelenskyy continues to refuse.
We start with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended these talks in Anchorage.
Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary.
MARCO RUBIO (U.S. Secretary of State): Good morning. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Vladimir Putin didn’t give President Trump the cease- fireplace he sought. And now Putin says the basis causes of the battle should be resolved in a peace settlement.
Is not the basis trigger the truth that Russia invaded within the first place?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Nicely, in the end, sure.
However, I imply, what he means by root causes is that this lengthy historic complaints that we have heard repeatedly. This isn’t a brand new argument. He is been making this for a very long time. And it is the argument that it is Western encroachment. I do not wish to get into – it is simply so lengthy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: However the backside line is that each one of – , we’re not going to give attention to all of that stuff. We will give attention to this, are they going to cease preventing or not, and what it is going to take to cease the preventing.
And what it is going to take to cease the preventing, if we’re being sincere and severe right here, is, each side are going to have to present, and each side ought to anticipate to get one thing from this. And that is a really troublesome factor to do. It’s extremely troublesome, as a result of Ukraine clearly feels, , harmed, and rightfully so, as a result of they have been invaded, and the Russian aspect, as a result of they really feel like they have momentum within the battlefield, and albeit, do not care, do not appear to care very a lot about what number of Russian troopers die on this endeavor.
They simply churn via it. So I believe what the president deserves loads of credit score for is the period of time and power that his administration is inserting on reaching a peace settlement for a conflict that is not a conflict that began beneath him. It is half – , it is on the opposite aspect of the world.
That mentioned, I imply, it is related to us. However there are loads of different points he could possibly be targeted on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: So, tomorrow, we’ll be assembly with President Zelenskyy. We’ll be assembly with European leaders. We simply met with Putin. He is devoted loads of time and power as a result of he has made it a precedence of his administration to cease or finish conflict, cease wars or forestall them.
And, proper now, that is the most important conflict occurring on the planet. It is the most important conflict in Europe since World Conflict II. We will proceed to do all the pieces we are able to to achieve an settlement that ends the dying and the killing and the struggling that is occurring proper now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
this effectively, how lengthy these form of diplomatic negotiations usually take. President Trump was telling European leaders what was mentioned was Putin demanding management of Donetsk, a area within the east that his forces don’t absolutely maintain. And the U.Ok. estimates that taking that full space could possibly be so long as one other 4 years.
Putin is also demanding Russian be an official language in Ukraine and one thing relating to Russian Orthodox church buildings. Did the U.S. settle for all of what Putin laid out at that desk?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: The US will not be ready to simply accept something or reject something, as a result of, in the end, it is as much as the Ukrainians. They’re those that Russia has to make peace with, and Ukraine with Russia.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, the president mentioned he did come to some agreements.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: It is as much as the Ukrainians to make these circumstances.
Nicely, the agreements have been that we have been going to attempt to do issues like, for instance, get a frontrunner – a leaders assembly. We’ve got to make sufficient progress in order that we are able to sit down President Zelenskyy and President Zelenskyy and President Putin in the identical place, which is what President Zelenskyy has been asking for, and attain a ultimate settlement that ends this conflict.
Now, there have been some ideas and concepts mentioned that we all know the Ukrainians could possibly be very supportive of in that assembly. I do not assume it is – we’re not going to barter this within the media. I perceive that everyone desires to know what occurred.
However, in the end, there are issues that have been mentioned as a part of this assembly which can be potentials for breakthroughs, which can be potentials for progress. We’ll be discussing that extra in depth tomorrow with our European allies, with the Ukrainians which can be coming over. We’ll be discussing all of this stuff, as a result of, in the end, we do want to search out areas the place we’re making progress and attempt to start to slim the hole between the 2 sides.
However there is a cause why this conflict has been occurring for 3.5 years. And that’s, with regards to the massive points right here, there are nonetheless some massive variations between each side. Let’s examine how a lot progress we are able to proceed to make. It is – it is – it is not been straightforward, but it surely’s one thing the president has made a precedence, peace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: And he deserves loads of credit score for that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However, in the end, if – if Vladimir Putin goes to be provided land that he has not seized but, however negotiates his method into, does not this set a harmful precedent that america now accepts this idea that it’s OK to grab land by pressure?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Nicely, Putin has already seized land by pressure, and that, in and of itself, will not be a optimistic precedent. This entire conflict is a damaging president – precedent.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you demanding withdrawal?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Nicely, once more, here is the – with a purpose to have a deal right here to finish – to achieve the top of this battle, each side are going to should make concessions. That is only a reality.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However does that imply accepting…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: In any negotiation, if…
MARGARET BRENNAN: … the place Russian forces are actually?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, no, however, if – however this isn’t about acceptance. That is about what Ukraine can settle for and what Russia can settle for. They each have to simply accept it. In any other case, there will not be a peace deal, OK?
If there aren’t concessions, if one aspect will get all the pieces they need, that is referred to as give up. That is referred to as the top of the conflict via give up. And that is not what we’re near doing, as a result of neither aspect right here is on the verge of give up or something near it.
So, to ensure that there to be a peace deal – that is only a reality. We could not prefer it, it is probably not nice, it might be distasteful, however to ensure that there to be an finish of the conflict, there are issues Russia desires that it can not get, and there are issues Ukraine desires that it is not going to get.
Either side are going to have to surrender one thing with a purpose to get to the desk with a purpose to make this occur. That is – that is simply the best way it’s. And, I imply, the earlier we settle for that, that is the fact.
Now, what these issues are goes to be as much as each side. There isn’t any circumstances that may be imposed on Ukraine. They’ll have to simply accept issues, however they will should get issues too. And so, for instance, Ukraine is a sovereign nation. They’ve a proper, like each sovereign nation does on the planet, to have – to enter into safety alliances with different international locations to forestall an invasion sooner or later, to forestall threats to their nationwide safety.
That is not an unreasonable request. That is one thing that must be labored on. Territories must be mentioned. It is only a reality. And there are issues that possibly Russia is holding now that they will have to surrender. Who is aware of?
The purpose is, we have to create a state of affairs the place that turns into doable. And that is why this has been so exhausting, as a result of neither aspect, to this point, has been keen to present on a few of these issues. However we’ll see if that is doable. It is probably not, however we’ll attempt, and we’ll do all the pieces we are able to to attempt to obtain a peace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, I perceive you – you possibly can’t get into specifics in a public dialog, however we’re taking a look at Russian troops and strikes intensifying. Did you hear something from Vladimir Putin that indicated he’s keen to make a single concession?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Nicely, I believe there are a pair. I imply, there weren’t sufficient for Ukraine. If not, we’d be saying a peace deal this morning, proper?
However – however, actually, there are some issues we discover, adjustments. There are some adjustments that I believe are doable. I believe there’s some ideas that have been mentioned that might probably result in one thing. However, once more, all this stuff should be verifiable. We – it is not actual till it is actual.
I imply, you – one factor is what you say you could be keen to think about. One other factor is your willingness to do it. And it all the time turns into a tradeoff in all of this. However you speak in regards to the intensifying strikes on the Russian aspect. Sure, I imply, they are a full-time conflict machine. I imply, that is what’s taking place. The Russian financial system has principally been became a full-time wartime financial system.
They’ve lots of people. It is a massive nation. It isn’t simply massive geographically. It has enormous populations. It continues to churn via folks. , they misplaced – 20,000 Russian troopers have been killed final month in July on this conflict. That simply tells you the worth they’re keen to pay.
Not saying any of that is admirable. I am saying that that is the fact of the conflict that we’re going through. It is grow to be attrition in some methods. It is a meat grinder, they usually simply have extra meat to grind.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, let me ask you in regards to the safety bit you simply talked about there, as a result of Italy’s prime minister says that President Trump revived the thought of safety ensures impressed by NATO’s Article 5 and a collective safety clause that may contain america.
How does that work?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Sure, I imply…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are these U.S. troops? Are these U.S. displays?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Nicely, that is what we’ll be engaged on. Nicely, that is what we’ll be engaged on.
That is why – that is one of many the reason why, , I talked yesterday to all of the nationwide safety advisers, a bunch of them from the completely different European international locations. There are European leaders coming right here tomorrow, heads of state coming tomorrow, together with President Zelenskyy, to debate this in additional element.
I imply, the constructs of one thing like this must be constructed out. As soon as factor – it is – an idea is one factor. The fact, , the way it’s constructed and the way it might work, is one other. However these are the sorts of talks that we’ll be having with them, together with a few of the different points which can be at play.
However that – that is among the – when you have been to interrupt this factor down, I imply, there are – clearly, there must be an settlement on territories and the place the strains are going to be drawn. That is not going to be very straightforward. That is going to be robust. I believe there needs to be some dialogue about safety ensures for Ukraine, as a result of they do not need this conflict to – none of us wish to see this conflict sooner or later.
They are a sovereign nation. They’ve a proper to have safety agreements with different international locations and safety alliances with different international locations. After which there’s the entire concern of reconstruction.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Together with United States?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: How do you rebuild the nation?
Nicely, probably. Like I mentioned, that is what we’ll be having a dialog about, and that is what we’ll be assembly – that is why they’re all coming right here tomorrow. And that is why we have been speaking on the telephone for the final 48 hours with them.
And even main as much as it, all through the week, there have been varied conferences simply to form of construct out a few of these concepts. So all of those proper now are concepts. They’re ideas that require some extra specificity. We’ll have to work with our companions to see what that appears like.
And I believe that is an space the place potential progress is actual, however that alone will not be sufficient. There is a bunch of different issues that should be labored via right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. Nicely, Russia claims it has rescued 700,000 kids. I do know that the warrant out for Vladimir Putin’s arrest is for the state-sponsored abduction of children.
I’ve seen estimates there are one thing like 30,000 Ukrainian kids who’ve been kidnapped. Is america demanding, or at the very least, even simply as an announcement of goodwill right here, that Russia return these kids?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Sure, I imply, we have repeatedly raised that concern on – in each discussion board doable.
And people have additionally been, by the best way, subjects of dialogue, not simply in our conferences with the Ukrainians, however within the negotiations and talks that have been occurring between Ukraine and Russia on the technical degree. These talks have been occurring in Turkey, for instance, Turkey, over the previous few months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, and nothing so removed from the Russians.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: That is been a subject of dialogue as effectively.
Nicely, it is unlucky. Youngsters ought to be returned to their households. We – – on that place, I do not assume there’s any ambiguity on our aspect. And so they should not even be, , a bargaining chip with regard to a broader negotiation.
But it surely’s only one extra aspect of how tragic this conflict is. After 3.5 years, this conflict is getting worse. It isn’t getting higher. You have made the purpose in regards to the uptick in strikes. This can be a conflict. It is going to worsen. It isn’t going to get higher. And that is why the president is investing a lot time in bringing this to an finish.
And, by the best way, everyone seems to be begging us to be concerned on this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: The Europeans need us concerned. The Ukrainians need us concerned. Clearly, the Russians need us concerned, as a result of the president is the one chief on the planet – if that is doable, he is the one one that may assist make it occur.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, he is bought the leverage over Vladimir Putin if he wished to crush his financial system or at the very least do extra harm to it.
However you might have held off on these secondary sanctions. President Trump informed Fox Information his recommendation to President Zelenskyy is: “Make a deal. Russia’s a really massive energy they usually’re not.”
there’s concern from the Europeans that President Zelenskyy goes to be bullied into signing one thing away. That is why you might have these European leaders coming as again up tomorrow. Are you able to reassure them?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, it is not. That is not why they’re coming as again – that is not true. No, however that is not – why would – that is not true.
They don’t seem to be coming right here tomorrow to maintain Zelenskyy from being bullied. They don’t seem to be coming – in truth, they’re coming right here tomorrow as a result of…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, that February Oval Workplace assembly in entrance of tv cameras, the place President Zelenskyy was dressed down…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Are you aware what number of conferences we have had since then?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Oh, no, I do know. And I used to be simply up in Alaska…
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Sure, however we have had a bunch of conferences since then.
MARGARET BRENNAN: … watching the one with Vladimir Putin, the place a purple carpet was rolled out for the Russian chief.
It was very completely different.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: No, however with Zelenskyy – we have had extra conferences – – we have had – we have had – we have had one assembly with Putin and like a dozen conferences with Zelenskyy.
So, that – however that is not true. They don’t seem to be coming right here tomorrow to maintain Zelenskyy from being bullied. They’re coming right here tomorrow as a result of we have been working with the Europeans. We talked to them final week. There have been conferences within the U.Ok. over the next – the earlier weekend.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And so they mentioned President Trump was going to demand a cease-fire.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: The president’s talked to those leaders as early as Thursday.
No, no, however you mentioned that they are coming right here tomorrow to maintain Zelenskyy from being bullied. They don’t seem to be coming right here tomorrow – that is such a silly media narrative that they are coming right here tomorrow as a result of the – Trump goes to bully Zelenskyy into a foul deal.
We have been working with these folks for weeks, for weeks on these things. They’re coming right here tomorrow as a result of they selected to come back right here tomorrow. We invited them to come back. We invited them to come back. The president invited them to come back.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the president informed these European leaders final week that he wished a cease-fire. The president went on tv, mentioned he would stroll out of the assembly if Vladimir Putin did not agree with on – he mentioned there could be extreme penalties if he did not agree to at least one. He mentioned he’d stroll out in two minutes.
He spent three hours speaking to Vladimir Putin, and he didn’t get one. So, there’s some blended messages.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: As a result of, clearly, one thing – issues occurred throughout that assembly.
Nicely, as a result of clearly issues – look, our objective right here is to not stage some manufacturing, for the world to say, oh, how dramatic. He walked out. Our objective right here is to have a peace settlement, to finish this conflict, OK? And, clearly, we felt, and I agreed, that there was sufficient progress, not loads of progress, however sufficient progress made in these talks to permit us to maneuver to the following section.
If not, we would not be having Zelenskyy flying all the best way over right here. We would not be having all of the Europeans coming all the best way over right here. Now, perceive, and take with a grain of salt, I am not saying we’re on the verge of a peace deal, however I’m saying that we noticed motion, sufficient motion to justify a follow-up assembly with Zelenskyy and the Europeans, sufficient motion for us to dedicate much more time to this.
You speak in regards to the sanctions. Look, on the finish of the day, if peace will not be going to be doable right here, and that is simply going to proceed on as a conflict, folks will proceed to die by the 1000’s. The president has that choice to then are available in and impose new sanctions.
But when he did this now – the second the president places these extra sanctions, that is the top of the talks. You have principally locked in at the very least one other 12 months to year-and-a-half of conflict and dying and destruction. We could sadly wind up there, however we do not wish to wind up there.
We wish to wind up with a peace deal that ends this conflict, so Ukraine can go on with the remainder of their lives and rebuild their nation and be assured that that is by no means going to occur once more. That is the objective right here. We will do all the pieces doable to make that occur, if it is doable.
It is going to require each side to make concessions. It is going to require each side to get issues they’re asking for. That is how these offers are made, whether or not we prefer it or not.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than I allow you to go, rapidly, why did the State Division simply announce that they are halting customer visas for all Gazans coming right here for medical assist? Why would a few of these children, for instance, who’re coming to hospitals for remedy be a menace?
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Nicely, to begin with, it is not simply children. It is a bunch of adults which can be accompanying them.
Second, we had outreach from a number of congressional places of work asking questions on it. And so we’ll reevaluate how these visas are being granted, not simply to the kids, however how these visas are being granted to the people who find themselves accompanying them, and, by the best way, to a few of the organizations which can be facilitating it.
There’s proof been introduced to us by quite a few congressional places of work that a few of the organizations bragging about and concerned in buying these visas have robust hyperlinks to terrorist teams like Hamas. And so we aren’t going to be in partnership with teams which can be pleasant with Hamas.
So we have to – we’ll pause these visas. There was only a small variety of them issued to kids, however they arrive with adults accompanying them, clearly. And we’re going to pause this program and reevaluate how these visas are being vetted and what relationship, if any, has there been by these organizations to the – to the method of buying these visas.
We’re not going to be in partnership with teams which have hyperlinks or sympathies in direction of Hamas.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, we have now to depart it there for this morning. Thanks for becoming a member of us.
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Face the Nation can be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re joined now by Colorado Democratic Congressman Jason Crow.
Good to see you in particular person.
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW (D-Colorado): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than we begin speaking about Ukraine, I wish to choose up on one thing, because you sit on the Intelligence Committee.
The secretary of state simply mentioned that lawmakers had come to the Trump administration with data that they’ve been granting visas to people with ties to Hamas or with organizations with ties to Hamas. That is a fairly gorgeous accusation. Israel controls who enters and exits Gaza.
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The US screens all visas. So is there actually a blind spot that you’re conscious of?
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: I am not conscious of that. However, if that is true, truly, that’s regarding. That might be an issue. I imply, Hamas is a brutal terrorist group. They shouldn’t be touring anyplace. So, if that is taking place, it ought to be stopped instantly. And the Intelligence Committee has a task to play in that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the Intelligence Committee wasn’t behind the knowledge introduced to the secretary of state?
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: I’ve not been briefed on that. I’ve no details about it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
On Ukraine, that the U.S. intelligence evaluation is that the battlefield is popping in Russia’s favor, even though Putin has to depend on Iran and North Korea to maintain this factor going. If neither President Biden nor President Trump have been ever keen to commit troops, does not the secretary have a degree that it needs to be hammered out on the negotiating desk?
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: , this totally will finish at a negotiating desk, like most conflicts will.
However what occurred on Friday was a historic embarrassment for america. There isn’t any different approach to put it, proper? You hearken to what Marco Rubio and the president have mentioned. They carry on saying they’re dedicating time. They’re making it a precedence. They’re focusing their consideration on it.
In any negotiation, while you’re attempting to finish an armed battle, there’s nothing extra essential than understanding what motivates your adversary. What’s making Vladimir Putin tick on this occasion? Vladimir Putin doesn’t care in regards to the period of time that we’re nego – we’re allocating to this, doesn’t care a couple of B-2 bomber flyover, doesn’t care a couple of lineup of F-22 fighters rolled out.
He does not care about any of that. What Vladimir Putin cares about is principally three issues. He cares about financial stress within the type of sanctions. He cares about political, diplomatic isolation, being a pariah state. And he cares about army defeat. These are the three issues that may finish this battle, if he feels stress on all of these three fronts.
And this administration continues to be unwilling to do something to claim stress in any of these three areas.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, they’ve put in place some secondary sanctions, at the very least on India right here. And so they have not pulled again. They would wish Congress to assist them repeal loads of these sanctions.
However larger image, in hindsight, do you assume america to this point has been too hesitant to really assist Ukraine win this conflict? President Obama didn’t ship offensive weapons to Ukraine. President Biden was criticized for being maybe too gradual in supply of sure weapons.
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: Sure, there is not any doubt.
As , I used to be one of many members of Congress that on a bipartisan foundation pushed actually exhausting within the first two years of this conflict beneath the Biden administration to do extra, to do extra faster. And I used to be involved that we have been doing simply sufficient to forestall Ukraine from shedding and never doing sufficient to assist them win.
And I do imagine that, had we finished extra, and we had finished – finished it quicker, and that we have been keen to be extra aggressive in offering assist and help for Ukraine, then they might be in a special place on the battlefield in the present day.
However examine that to what this administration has finished, which has relieved virtually all stress. Like, take a look at what occurred on Friday.
U.S. army personnel in uniform actually have been on their palms and knees rolling out a purple carpet for probably the most murderous dictator of the twenty first century, any individual who has kidnapped and is holding prisoner tens of 1000’s of Ukrainian kids, any individual who began this entire conflict, proper?
This both-sides-ism that the administration is participating in, that each side want to come back to the desk and negotiate, Ukraine is the sufferer. They’re the sufferer. They did not begin this conflict. Russia did. And in some way we carry on appearing like Vladimir Putin deserves to be introduced out into the open like some other head of state.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: This can be a historic embarrassment and defeat for U.S. overseas coverage.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You could have served this nation in uniform.
I ponder, because you sit on the Armed Companies Committee, how comfy you’d be with america giving this, regardless of the Article 5- like safety assure would seem like. Is that one thing you must see boots on the bottom to do?
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: I do not assume boots on the bottom could be the best way to go, however, actually, america has belongings and functionality that I believe are important to any sort of safety assure.
I believe Europe has to come back ahead with the ahead presence of army, however we are able to present intelligence. We are able to present financial help, diplomatic help. One of the vital essential issues that we are able to do proper now is definitely seize Russian belongings. This might be enormous. This might be a game-changing factor that may put stress on Vladimir Putin and truly create safety ensures and reconstruction for Ukraine.
There’s over $150 billion of seized Russian belongings. And america could lead on a coalition to grab that cash…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: … allocate it in direction of reconstruction, allocate it in direction of safety, allocate it in direction of the constructing of a Ukrainian army that might truly resist Russia going ahead. However this administration is unwilling to do it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The final administration was too.
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: That is proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They did conform to the laws.
However on the immigration entrance, you and your fellow Democratic lawmakers are actually attempting to problem the Trump administration’s coverage that requires discover to be given earlier than you go to an immigration facility. You simply did go to some. What did you see? And the way does that examine to the final administration?
REPRESENTATIVE JASON CROW: Nicely, there’s an ICE detention middle in my district in Aurora, Colorado. I’ve visited that middle 10 occasions now during the last 5 years, six years.
And oversight of federal amenities is among the most essential issues that any member of Congress does, Air Power bases, army bases, VA hospitals, and ICE detention facilities. This administration simply tripled the price range of ICE, made it the biggest federal regulation enforcement company within the historical past of america, larger than the FBI, ATF, DEA, all others mixed.
And they’re placing in roadblocks to forestall oversight, to forestall transparency as a result of they’re attempting to cover what they’re doing. That’s unacceptable. So we filed a lawsuit to pressure them to abide by federal regulation that ensures us entry.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. And we’ll see the place that heads subsequent.
Jason Crow, thanks.
We can be proper again.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: We can be proper again. Stick with us.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to FACE THE NATION.
Fiona Hill served because the senior director for Russia and European affairs on the Nationwide Safety Council throughout President Trump’s first time period. She joins us now from Waterville, Maine.
Good morning to you.
FIONA HILL (Former NSC Senior Director, European and Russian Affairs): Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, Fiona, you have been an advisor throughout that notorious Helsinki summit in 2018. You have spoke about that previously. I ponder what you consider how this Alaska summit in contrast.
FIONA HILL: Nicely, clearly fairly completely different in – in lots of respects. A part of it was the truth that they determined to skip the one-on-one assembly and the lunch. I imply these are often a part of this form of set of summits like this. And the press convention, clearly, was extra of an announcement or a set of bulletins. Shows by each leaders, rather more by President Putin, and extra of a commentary by President Trump. So, there wasn’t that free for all of press questions, which I am positive was a bit disconcerting for you and others who have been current there at Alaska.
However the optics weren’t precisely nice, as Congressman Crow has laid out, for america and for President Trump once more. I imply, once more, completely different. However though it was introduced as maybe a present of energy by being at a U.S. Air Power Base with the flight passing of the B-52s and the fighter jets, it did actually seemed rather more like a present of appreciation for Vladimir Putin. And so the optics have been actually rather more favorable to Putin than they have been to america. It actually seemed like Putin set the agenda there, the narrative, and in lots of respects the tone for the entire summit assembly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, saying that, , the president has a group of advisors round him. In a conventional administration, these advisors could be setting the coverage, they might be planning the optics, and they might be pondering via that.
Do you assume that the president’s group set him up for fulfillment right here?
FIONA HILL: Nicely, look, it might effectively have been that one of many calls for, as a result of we have heard from Secretary Rubio, which, I’ve to say, I believe was a particularly reasonable evaluation of the place issues are. So, it might effectively have been that one of many calls for by the Russians to make any progress in shifting additional ahead was to really have that form of present of pomp and pageantry that’s – principally marks Putin’s re-entry into worldwide affairs. Perhaps the Russians mentioned to them in Moscow, both to Steve Witkoff or to Secretary Rubio or to anyone else that principally they wished to have a – a significant U.S./Russia bilateral summit look earlier than they might transfer on to the nitty-gritty of the rest in Ukraine. That is, , to present all of them the good thing about the doubt there.
But it surely all now relies on what comes out of this. And I believe, once more, Secretary Rubio made it very clear that it is not going to be straightforward. He was actually downplaying any expectations of a significant breakthrough, however he did say that it was one thing that could be doable. And I believe that is what is going on to be the proof of whether or not this was truly price all the hassle that they went to in Alaska or not.
And as Congressman Crow mentioned, there is a fairly excessive bar right here as a result of what Putin is doing is fairly brutal. And he isn’t exhibiting proper now any indicators in any respect of giving something up.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The UK’s protection secretary has mentioned that they might be keen to place boots on the bottom in Ukraine to assist oversee a ceasefire. If you hear these safety ensures being talked about, and the secretary mentioned he’s going to barter that tomorrow, what ought to we predict – , what type is that going to take? What do you assume that ought to seem like?
FIONA HILL: Nicely, look, I believe he truly let this out, and you probably did too in your questions. And I believe Congressman Crow has made it very clear as effectively, it needs to be a mix of the entire issues that we have already heard mentioned on the present in the present day. You could have to have the ability to have some boots on the bottom. Congressman Crow mentioned it does not should be america. That is truly the case. But it surely truly needs to be some dedication from america to allow European forces to really maintain that territory and to offer some safety ensures for Ukraine.
The US is essential when it comes to its intelligence, when it comes to enabling tools and the knowledge of the information that we would wish for all of this to make a safety intervention imply one thing. And it is also important when it comes to every kind of different types of tools and defensive weaponry. We have already heard, in fact, about Ukraine needing every kind of kit, from javelins up to now, to patriots, now when it comes to an built-in missile protection system that Ukraine desperately wants. So, there’s rather a lot there that everyone knows must be finished.
And what we actually have to see, I believe, in these conferences that may happen on Monday and shifting ahead, is an actual dedication to america to work with Europeans and to work with Ukraine to make this occur.
Look, that is existential additionally for European safety. So, minimizing the position of Europe right here, be it the UK, be it Poland, be it Finland, be it France, be it Germany, will not be the best way to go. Europe has to have an equal say in all of this. That is about Europe’s future and the way forward for European safety, not nearly Ukraine’s.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to ask you in regards to the dynamic between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. each males. You have written biographies of Vladimir Putin and, in fact, you served beneath Donald Trump. In one of many Fox interviews that President Trump did, he mentioned that he spoke about mail- in voting in america with Vladimir Putin. And through that press deal with, Putin additionally claimed that the conflict would not have occurred in any respect if Donald Trump had been fairly. I imply that is a counter factual, however that is one thing Trump usually says on the – on the path. Why would these issues be mentioned in any respect if this was about Ukraine?
FIONA HILL: Precisely. Nicely, look, that is Vladimir Putin, as traditional, attempting to control U.S. home politics. I’ve seen him do that over and over, together with at Helsinki when he set the president off, not within the press convention, however earlier than that, in an entire diatribe in opposition to his political enemies as a result of Putin intentionally requested him about this.
So, Putin is aware of that President Trump desires to have an acknowledgment of his self-assertion, that the conflict would not have occurred had he not – had he been within the presidency. And so Putin’s giving him one thing that performs effectively for President Trump and his personal home atmosphere. It does not play effectively within the worldwide atmosphere the place folks know issues are rather more difficult but it surely’s principally gifting a concession to President Trump himself.
And Putin desires to sow chaos within the American electoral system forward of the midterms. So, in fact, he is laid into this entire concern of mail-in voting. And President Trump asserted in his Fox Information interview that there have been no international locations on the planet that permit mail-in voting. Nicely, Russia permits mail- in voting. And if all people desires to exit and look, they’ll search for themselves. In 2020, President Vladimir Putin signed into regulation Russians having the ability to vote by mail and in addition on the web. And greater than 30 different international locations additionally permit some types of mail-in voting. So, it is simply not true that different international locations, together with Russia, do not use this. It is a pure blatant piece of manipulation, and that is the form of factor that Putin likes to do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And, in fact, I do not assume you’d endorse the result of that voting system and people elections are rigged in Russia, right?
FIONA HILL: In fact.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
FIONA HILL: And, I imply, principally Putin desires to see us tie ourselves up in knots between now and the midterms. He is attempting to stitch chaos. And he is simply higher used his time with President Trump to push that alongside.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
FIONA HILL: It is – once more, it is a diversion. It is a distraction actually from the negotiations on Ukraine as a result of Putin does not actually wish to give something up. So, he offers up principally one thing that performs effectively within the political enviornment for President Trump and one thing that really performs very badly for america in its personal political enviornment, which is the mail- in voting level that he made.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Fiona Hill, all the time admire your evaluation. Thanks for becoming a member of us in the present day.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Throughout our journey to Alaska final week for the Trump/Putin summit, we talked with Alaskan Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in regards to the strategic army significance of Alaska. We started by asking about potential presents to Putin to get him to finish the conflict in Ukraine.
(BEGIN VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: “The Telegraph” was reporting providing Putin an opportunity to spend money on the pure assets off of Alaska’s coast, within the Bearing Strait.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN (R-AK): Sure. Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you comfy with that?
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Nicely, look, we have now loads of America traders and our allies who wish to spend money on Alaska’s pure assets. We’re having a growth right here. We do not want Russian investments. We do not want Russian cash. They are a competitor of ours with regards to power and pure assets and demanding minerals. So, I doubt that is on the desk. And, , I’d not –
MARGARET BRENNAN: You would be upset if there was?
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: I’d not – I’d not help that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Your colleague –
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: And by the best way, simply to – on that time although, a distinction. You would possibly bear in mind final time I used to be in your present we talked in regards to the Biden administration –
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to discuss this.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: With this nice state of ours.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Shutting us down, proper? I imply that was 70 government orders to close down, solely targeted on Alaska, shut down our useful resource growth financial system. Our personal federal authorities, the Biden administration, sanctioned my state greater than they sanctioned Iran. What we’re seeing with President Trump in his administration is an entire 180 on that. Unleashing Alaska’s useful resource potential has been an enormous focus of the president since day one.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you talked about how livid you have been with the Biden administration for the manager actions they mentioned they have been taking to guard pure assets.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They mentioned land conservation was essential, and the indigenous inhabitants right here actually wished it.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Proper. Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You referred to as it a lie.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: I did name it a lie. It was a lie.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And also you mentioned it was nationwide safety suicide. Trump has already reversed this.
However are you in any respect involved that there are short-term advantages to your state financially, however long run actual harm to the atmosphere right here?
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: No. Look, Alaska has an unimaginable report of having the ability to develop our assets and shield the atmosphere. You stroll round right here, you see what a pristine, lovely atmosphere we have now right here. However we all know we want jobs. We’d like pure useful resource growth. So, we are able to do each. All the north slope of Alaska, the Nupiet (ph) group, throughout the board was in opposition to what the Biden administration did, which was lock up the whole pure petroleum reserve of Alaska, which was put aside by Congress to develop our assets. After which he had the audacity to say, hey, I did this on behalf of the native folks. That was not true in any respect. It was an outrage.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So – so, for activists or for these involved in regards to the harm right here –
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You say they simply do not know what they’re speaking about?
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Nicely, I say – effectively, a pair issues. There isn’t any place on the planet that has greater requirements on defending the atmosphere than us. And if we want American power, why would we go, just like the Biden administration did, begging from Iran, Venezuela, locations that don’t have any environmental requirements, when you will get it from America, from American staff, with the best environmental requirements anywhere on the planet. And secondly, when you might have useful resource growth, significantly in our rural communities, you see life expectations will increase – growing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, on this area –
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Arctic is of supreme concern from a nationwide safety perspective.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The ice is melting.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Majority of scientists attribute that to world warming, however the finish result’s there is a potential for an Arctic space for commerce routes.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Appropriate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Additionally tapping into the pure assets there.
How does america acquire an edge in – in dominating that?
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Nicely, look, it is a terrific query. It is actually essential. You are mentioning commerce routes which can be opening up. We have already talked about pure assets, that are enormous, up within the Arctic. And what we have to do is acknowledge that we’re an Arctic nation. We’re an Arctic nation due to Alaska.
And, look, this has not all the time been a precedence of earlier administrations. What we’re doing up right here, we’re rebuilding our army. The one massive, lovely invoice actually does it. As I discussed, , Alaska exudes army would possibly. We are the cornerstone of missile protection, and we’ll be the cornerstone of the president’s golden dome initiative. We’re the hub of air fight energy. You are seeing them flying over right here. We’ve got over 100 fifth era fighters based mostly in Alaska. We’ve got a brand-new U.S. Military airborne division up right here. So, we’re constructing out our army, which is nice, but in addition constructing out our Arctic capabilities.
And once more, within the one massive, lovely invoice, virtually $26 billion funding within the Coast Guard, which is the most important funding within the Coast Guard in American historical past by far, 16 icebreakers coming with that, 22 cutters, 40 helicopters, a bunch of shore aspect infrastructure, loads of that is going to be in Alaska to defend the Arctic. And we have to defend the Arctic as a result of, as you and I’ve talked about, the Russians and the Chinese language are in our waters and in our airspace on a regular basis, together with doing joint operations up right here, which is unprecedented.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wished to ask you about that as a result of the conflict in Ukraine has damage Russia’s funds –
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Made them extra depending on Beijing, together with with regards to exploring up and across the Arctic.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They’d a joint bomber job pressure come right here –
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Appropriate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Fairly darn shut.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Oh, they have been in our ADIZs, as they – as we name it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Air Protection Identification Zone.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Appropriate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, are you involved this truly turns into a flashpoint?
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: I believe that is already changing into a flash level. I imply the variety of occasions that the Russians and Chinese language are doing joint strategic bomber job forces in our airspace and joint naval job forces in our EEZ, in our waters, they’re –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Financial Zone?
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Sure. That is taking place regularly now, that is unprecedented. They do not do joint operations anyplace else on America’s borders. That is for positive.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, the Republican chair of the Armed Companies Committee and the Appropriations Committee says there’s much more wanted for the U.S. army than what has been offered by the White Home and their price range.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: We have to do extra and we actually have to maintain it above 3 p.c of GDP and rising in direction of 4 or 5 p.c of GDP. It is a harmful world proper now.
However this one massive, lovely invoice, the price range reconciliation invoice does rather a lot for our army proper now on pressing wants. Shipbuilding. As we have now talked about, our Navy, our capability to construct ships is totally atrophied. Weapons and ammo programs. The golden dome.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know you might have your individual proposal.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: Completely.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However has the Pentagon informed you what the golden dome is?
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: All proper, I imply, I have been engaged on this with the Pentagon. That is missile protection that could be a layered missile protection. So, what meaning is, proper right here, like I mentioned, you might have the ground-based missile interceptor – the missile interceptors in Alaska. You could have all of the radar programs in Alaska that shield the entire nation when it comes to ballistic missiles.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: We’ve got new threats. We’ve got hypersonics. We’ve got drones. We’ve got, heck, even we have seen it right here in Alaska, spy balloons. What we have to do is improve the system with what’s referred to as a layered protection. Not simply the ground-based system right here, however you’re employed it extra with completely different programs, Aegis Ashore, THAD, after which together with space-based programs, each for monitoring and intercepting. And also you to try this with an open structure when it comes to software program to combine these programs. So, I’m very accustomed to what the golden dome is doing and I am main the hassle within the Senate on it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN: And, by the best way, my state is the cornerstone of all of the missile protection proper now and can proceed to be so.
(END VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ll find extra from our interview with Dan Sullivan on our web site, facethenation.com and our YouTube web page.
We’ll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza the place the Hamas-run Gaza Well being Ministry experiences that the full variety of starvation- associated deaths has now risen to 250, together with 110 kids. Seven of these deaths within the final 24 hours.
World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres joins us this morning from Jerusalem. He visited Gaza late final week.
Good morning.
JOSE ANDRES (Founder, World Central Kitchen): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s uncommon to get a glance inside Gaza. The IDF doesn’t permit journalists in to freely report. However they allow you to in. What did you see?
JOSE ANDRES: It was a day journey. I used to be capable of go early within the day and depart earlier than sundown. And I go to our foremost – one among our two foremost kitchens inside Gaza in Derbala (ph). And I used to be capable of go to the few warehouses we have now there, the bakery, the kitchens. And I spending a day attempting to see what else the groups want, what else we must be doing, how we’re going to be growing the recent meals and bread we’re producing proper now. So, it was a day once more to point out help, to see by myself and assess the scenario of our personal kitchens. And – and that is how – what I’ve to report with that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The U.N. says that there’s hunger taking place in Gaza. Israel’s prime minister says there isn’t any hunger. What’s actual?
JOSE ANDRES: Clearly, there’s all the time a grey space. However we’re making packing containers for kids that we all know they’re in very particular want scenario. I noticed these packing containers be made with the title of each one of many kids. We have to do not forget that throughout many weeks no meals was going inside Gaza. And that is to 2 million folks.
So, within the locations we all know we’re feeding, we’re doing round 200,000 meals a day, however that is solely 10 p.c of the necessity. That is why we try to extend.
I can say that the place we’re, clearly individuals are – are – are being fed. On the very minimal. It isn’t all the pieces they need to be receiving, however on the very least they’re receiving a chunk of bread and a chunk of meals.
However we want rather more assist. We have to be sure that the help isn’t interrupted once more. We have to be sure that the move of vehicles retains taking place. We have to be sure that we have now secure roads so these vehicles can attain their meant supply place. We have to be sure that all of the NGOs which can be actively attempting to do one of the best they’ll to maintain folks inside Gaza, and that is past meals, clearly medication, et cetera, et cetera, we have to be sure that the help is huge sufficient that we do not get to these moments the place in some areas, like within the north, that these are nonetheless very troublesome to achieve, that we all know that individuals are determined for meals.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You talked about for a lot of weeks no meals was allowed in. That was a authorities coverage. There was a blockade for a lot of months. That’s now lifted formally.
However as you say, your group desires to scale up. You are attempting to supply 1 million meals a day in Gaza. Are you able to get the gasoline in to try this? Are you able to get the meals in? Are Israeli officers supplying you with a inexperienced mild?
JOSE ANDRES: Nicely, it is one million as a result of we – we’re a corporation that we focus on emergencies and in meals. However actually we’re requesting that each one the NGOs which can be collaborating in feeding are giving extra entry, together with us, and different organizations, like Anera (ph), which was one of many organizations we work with that they’ve been in Gaza for a lot of, many many years, and lots of others. We have to be sure that all people has entry. For that we want loads of issues. The vehicles inside Gaza. We have to do not forget that the vehicles come from exterior Gaza. And they’re – they’re put apart. After which we have to reload the vehicles which can be inside Gaza. This takes time. We’d like extra vehicles inside. So, the trucking firm can have sufficient folks and sufficient vehicles to have a relentless move.
I’ve to report that as I noticed a superb move of vehicles entering into, round 150 to 250 vehicles are entering into day by day. However even I’d say that this isn’t sufficient. We have to be sure that we massively improve, that we massively be sure that no person needs to be strolling for miles to attempt to attain a spot the place they’ll discover a plate of meals or use a bag of rice. We’d like to verify like what World Central Kitchen does. At one second we had, , 100 to 200 kitchen companions. We have to be sure that we’re cooking the place folks dwell. We have to be sure that we’re feeding them the place individuals are so the folks do not should be once more leaving their neighborhoods, leaving their tents and strolling for hours backwards and forwards solely to attempt to carry somewhat little bit of meals again dwelling.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Jose Andres, thanks very a lot on your time this morning.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us in the present day. Thanks all for watching. Till subsequent week. For FACE THE NATION, I am Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
