The next is the complete transcript of an interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Aug. 17, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We start with Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who attended these talks in Anchorage. Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO: Good morning. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Vladimir Putin didn’t give President Trump the ceasefire 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?
SEC. RUBIO: Properly, finally, yeah. 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. However the backside line is that every one of- you recognize, we’re not going to deal with all of that stuff. We will deal with 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 critical right here, is either side are going to have to offer, and either side ought to count on to get one thing from this. And that is a really troublesome factor to do. It’s totally troublesome as a result of Ukraine clearly feels, you recognize, harmed, and rightfully so, as a result of they have been invaded. And the Russian facet, as a result of they really feel like they obtained momentum within the battlefield, and admittedly, do not care, do not appear to care very a lot about what number of Russian troopers die on this endeavor. They only churn via it. So I feel what the President deserves lots of credit score for is the period of time and power that his administration is putting on reaching a peace settlement for a struggle that is not a struggle that began beneath him. It is half, you recognize, it is on the opposite facet of the world. That stated, I imply, it is related to us. However there are lots of different points he could possibly be targeted on. So tomorrow, we’ll be assembly with President Zelenskyy. We’ll be assembly with European leaders. We simply met with Putin. He is devoted lots of time and power as a result of he has made it a precedence of his administration to cease or finish war- cease wars or stop them. And proper now, that is the largest struggle occurring on this planet. It is the largest struggle in Europe since World Warfare Two. We will proceed to do every little thing 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: You recognize this nicely, how lengthy these type 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 UK 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 concerning Russian Orthodox church buildings. Did the U.S. settle for all of what Putin laid out at that desk?
SEC. RUBIO: America will not be ready to just accept something or reject something, as a result of finally, it is as much as the Ukrainians. They’re those that Russia has to make peace with, Ukraine with Russia–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Properly, the President stated he did come to some agreement–
SEC. RUBIO: –It is as much as the Ukrainians to make these situations. Properly, the agreements have been that we have been going to attempt to do issues like, for instance, get a leader- a leaders assembly. We’ve 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 struggle. 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 suppose it’s- we’re not going to barter this within the media. I perceive that everyone desires to know what occurred. However finally, there are issues that have been mentioned as a part of this assembly which might be potentials for breakthroughs, which might be potentials for progress. We’ll be discussing that extra in depth tomorrow, with our European allies, with the Ukrainians which might be coming over. We’ll be discussing all of this stuff, as a result of finally, 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 struggle has been occurring for 3 and a half years, and that’s, in the case of the large points right here, there are nonetheless some massive variations between either side. Let’s have a look at how a lot progress we are able to proceed to make. It is- it’s- it is not been simple, however it’s one thing the President’s made a precedence. Peace. And he deserves lots of credit score for that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However finally, 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 the USA now accepts this idea that it’s okay to grab land by power?
SEC. RUBIO: Properly, Putin has already seized land by power, and that, in and of itself, will not be a optimistic precedent. This complete struggle is a damaging precedent–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Are you demanding withdrawal?–
SEC. RUBIO: –precedent. Properly, once more, here is the- so as to have a deal right here to end- to achieve the top of this battle, either side are going to should make concessions. That is simply the facts–
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: However does that imply accepting–
SEC. RUBIO: –in any negotiation–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –where Russian forces are actually?
SEC. 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 just accept it, in any other case there will not be a peace deal. Okay. If there aren’t concessions, if one facet will get every little thing they need, that is known as give up. That is known as the top of the struggle via give up. And that is not what we’re near doing, as a result of neither facet 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 might not prefer it, it will not be nice, it could be distasteful, however to ensure that there to be an finish of the struggle, 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 so as to get to the desk, so as to make this occur. That is- that is simply the way in which 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 either side. There isn’t any situations that may be imposed on Ukraine. They’ll have to just 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 this 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 must be labored on. Territories should be mentioned. It is only a reality, and there are issues that perhaps 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 arduous, as a result of neither facet, to date, has been prepared to offer on a few of these issues. However we’ll see if that is doable. It will not be, however we will strive, and we will do every little thing we are able to to attempt to obtain a peace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I perceive you, you’ll be able to’t get into specifics in a public dialog, however we’re Russian troops and strikes intensifying. Did you hear something from Vladimir Putin that indicated he’s prepared to make a single concession?
SEC. RUBIO: Properly, I feel there are a pair. I imply, there were- not sufficient for Ukraine, if not we might be asserting a peace deal this morning, proper? However- however definitely, there are some issues we discover modifications. There are some modifications that I feel are doable. I feel there’s some ideas that have been mentioned that would 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 prepared to think about, one other factor is your willingness to do it. And it at all times turns into a commerce off in all of this. However you speak concerning the intensifying strikes on the Russian facet, yeah, I imply, they seem to be a full-time struggle machine. I imply, that is what’s occurring. 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 is not simply massive geographically. It has big populations. It continues to churn via individuals. You recognize, they lost- 20,000 Russian troopers have been killed final month, in July, on this struggle. That simply tells you the worth they’re prepared to pay. Not saying any of that is admirable, I am saying that that is the fact of the struggle that we’re dealing with. It is grow to be attrition, in some methods. It is a meat grinder, they usually simply have extra meat to grind.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, let me ask you concerning the safety bit you simply talked about there, as a result of Italy’s Prime Minister says that President Trump revived the concept of safety ensures impressed by NATO’s Article 5 and a collective safety clause that may contain the USA. How does that work? Are these U.S. troops? Are these U.S. displays?
SEC. RUBIO: Properly, what we will be engaged on. That is why- that is {one of the} the reason why, you recognize, I talked yesterday to all of the nationwide safety advisors, a bunch of them from the totally different European international locations, or 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 it- idea is one factor. The fact, you recognize, the way it’s constructed and the way it will work, is one other. However these are the sorts of talks that we will be having with them, together with among the different points which might be at play. However, that-that is one in every of the-if 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 simple. That is going to be robust. I feel there must be some dialogue about safety ensures for Ukraine, as a result of they do not need this struggle to–none of us wish to see this struggle sooner or later. They seem to be 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 subject of reconstruction–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Together with the USA?–
SEC. RUBIO: — How do you rebuild the nation? Properly, probably, like I stated, that is what we will be having a dialog about, and that is what we will be assembly. That is why they’re all coming right here tomorrow, and-and that is why we have been speaking on the cellphone 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 must work with our companions to see what that appears like. And I feel 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 Yea, nicely, Russia claims it has rescued 700,000 youngsters. I do know you recognize 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 youngsters who’ve been kidnapped. Is the USA demanding, or at the least, even simply as a press release of goodwill right here, that Russia return these youngsters?
SEC. RUBIO: Yeah, I imply, we have repeatedly raised that subject on- in each discussion board doable, and people have additionally been, by the way in which, 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 stage. These talks have been occurring in Turkey, for instance. Turkey over the previous couple of months–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Yeah, nothing so removed from the Russians —
SEC. RUBIO: –that’s been a subject of dialogue as nicely —
SEC. RUBIO: Properly, it is unlucky. Kids must be returned to their households. We- on that place, I do not suppose there’s any ambiguity on our facet. They usually should not even be, you recognize, a bargaining chip with regard to a broader negotiation. But it surely’s only one extra aspect of how tragic this struggle is. After three and a half years, this struggle is getting worse. It is not getting higher. You have made the purpose concerning the uptick in strikes. This can be a struggle. It is going to worsen. It is not going to get higher, and that is why the President is investing a lot time in bringing this to an finish. And, by the way in which, everyone seems to be begging us to be concerned on this. 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 within the world- if that is doable, he is the one one that may assist make it occur.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, he is obtained the leverage over Vladimir Putin if he wished to crush his financial system or at the least do extra injury to it, however you’ve got held off on these secondary sanctions. President Trump advised Fox Information his recommendation to President Zelenskyy is make a deal, Russia’s a really massive energy they usually’re not. You recognize there’s concern from the Europeans that President Zelenskyy goes to be bullied into signing one thing away. That is why you’ve got these European leaders coming as again up tomorrow. Are you able to reassure them?
SEC. RUBIO: No, it is not. That is not why they’re coming as back- that is not true. No however that is not, why, that is not true. They are not coming right here tomorrow to maintain Zelenskyy from being bullied. They are not coming- actually —
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly that February Oval Workplace assembly in entrance of tv cameras, the place President Zelenskyy was dressed down —
SEC. 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 —
SEC. RUBIO: Yeah, however we have had a bunch of conferences since then.
MARGARET BRENNAN: — watching the one with Vladimir Putin the place a pink carpet was rolled out for the Russian chief. It was very different–
SEC. RUBIO: — No, however it wasn’t 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. In order that, however that is not true. They are not 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 UK over the next, the earlier weekend —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — They usually stated the President Trump was going to demand a ceasefire —
SEC. RUBIO: — The President’s talked to those leaders as early as Thursday. No, no, however you stated that they are coming right here tomorrow to maintain Zelenskyy from being bullied. They are not 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 nasty deal. We have been working with these individuals 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 advised these European leaders final week that he wished a stop hearth. The President went on tv, stated he would stroll out of the assembly if Vladimir Putin did not agree with him. He stated there could be extreme penalties if he did not agree to at least one. He stated he’d stroll out in two minutes. He spent three hours speaking to Vladimir Putin, and he didn’t get one,so–
SEC. RUBIO: –As a result of clearly one thing, issues occur 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 struggle. Okay? And clearly we felt, and I agreed, that there was sufficient progress, not lots of progress, however sufficient progress made in these talks to permit us to maneuver to the subsequent part. If not, we would not be having Zelenskyy flying all the way in which over right here. We would not be having all of the Europeans coming all the way in which 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 comply with up assembly with Zelenskyy and the Europeans, sufficient motion for us to dedicate much more time to this. You speak concerning 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 struggle, individuals will proceed to die by the 1000’s, the President has that choice to then are available and impose new sanctions. But when he did this now, the second the President places these further sanctions, that is the top of the talks. You have principally locked in at the least one other yr to yr and a half of struggle and demise and destruction. We might 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 struggle 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 every little thing doable to make that occur if it is doable. It’ll require either side to make concessions. It’ll require either 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 introduced that they are halting customer visas for all Gazans coming right here for medical support? Why would a few of these youngsters, for instance, who’re coming to hospitals for remedy be a risk?
SEC. RUBIO: Properly, initially, it is not simply youngsters, it is a bunch of adults which might be accompanying them. Second, we had outreach from a number of congressional workplaces asking questions on it, and so we will reevaluate how these visas are being granted, not simply to the youngsters, however how these visas are being granted to the people who find themselves accompanying them. And by the way in which, to among the organizations which might be facilitating it. There’s proof, it has been offered to us by quite a few congressional workplaces, that among 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 might be pleasant with Hamas. So we want to- we will pause these visas. There was only a small variety of them issued to youngsters, 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 the direction of Hamas.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. We’ve to go away it there for this morning. Thanks for becoming a member of us.
SEC. RUBIO: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: ‘Face the Nation’ shall be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
