The next is the transcript of an interview with Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, taped Aug. 14, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, and airing on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Aug. 17, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator.
SEN. DAN SULLIVAN: Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks for becoming a member of us in your house state.
SEN. SULLIVAN: Welcome to Alaska. The daddy of the U.S. Air Pressure referred to as Alaska probably the most strategic place on the planet. That is a quote by Billy Mitchell that I exploit quite a bit. And now you see why.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly — very strategic. And I need to speak to you about a whole lot of issues particular to the state–
SEN. SULLIVAN: Good.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —however that is the main target of the world proper now—
SEN. SULLIVAN: It’s.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —due to who’s coming right here.
SEN. SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So out of your perspective, you are a supporter of Ukraine—
SEN. SULLIVAN: I’ve been.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —what does a profitable Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, summit seem like?
SEN. SULLIVAN: Properly, look, I feel the President and his crew have to be recommended. You recognize, they’ve put a whole lot of effort and power in peace, with regard to Ukraine and Russia, like they’re doing all around the globe, , they’re they’re making a whole lot of headway on peace, whether or not it is the Azerbaijan-Armenia points, Iran-Israel, Pakistan-India, they’re placing a whole lot of power into bringing peace to totally different components of the world, however they put probably the most power into this.
So, look, I feel a profitable final result could be, as , a com- negotiating peace could be very complicated, very tough. Even this type of excessive degree diplomacy has dangers for everyone, together with the president and his crew. The totally different parts of a peace settlement, beginning with the ceasefire, then you definitely would have territorial points, concessions or not, then you might have safety ensures. However I feel this can be a place-setting train that the administration believes that if they will get a ceasefire, then you definitely would do the opposite parts that I talked about, the rather more complicated parts, with Zelenskyy, with our European and NATO allies. So I feel the President goes to evaluate Putin’s seriousness on a ceasefire. And if he assesses that, that he is severe, and Putin agrees to a ceasefire, then I feel that will be success. Then you definitely transfer on to the opposite parts for spherical two. So that is actually preliminary, and I might name it, , an train in place-setting for the true negotiations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, look ahead to the ceasefire, and decide success based mostly off of that. Properly, the Kremlin has introduced there’s going to be this joint press convention. The White Home says, we’ll see, the president stated possibly, possibly not. Vladimir Putin is being introduced in from the chilly. He is been remoted by the world for a cause. Do you assume that that is rewarding dangerous conduct, by giving him this highlight on the American soil?
SEN. SULLIVAN: Look, two issues on that. Vladimir Putin is coming to barter with Trump due to the sanctions. I imply, do not take it from me. Take heed to our European allies who’re definitive on that. The explanation Putin is even doing that is due to the specter of severe secondary sanctions. So I feel that that’s vital. And, , by way of American soil, look, I truly assume Alaska is the suitable place. Putin understands one factor, as , Margaret, energy and energy. And my state exudes energy and energy with an enormous army right here. By the way in which, we’re having an enormous army train happening proper now. I hope Vladimir Putin sees a whole lot of that army energy within the subsequent couple of days. Unleashing American power, which the President is doing. That is the weapon that Putin fears in all probability greater than something, after we can compete with them.
After which that is additionally, , a spot that demonstrates an enormous aspect of American energy and energy, which is our allies. We have now allies doing army workouts up right here as we converse, the president has been doing an amazing job with our European allies. Gotten NATO to get to five%, coordinating with all of them week. So I feel these are actually vital. After which lastly, , as an Alaskan. I feel it is vital, from the attitude of reminding the Russians that we’re fairly good negotiators, together with the president of the US. You recognize, final time we had a giant cope with Russia in America, about my state, we received this nice state for 2 cents an acre, $7.2 million, in all probability the deal of the century. And I feel the Russians- I feel the Russians in all probability should keep in mind that too.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, precisely. Do not you assume for Vladimir Putin, who, , allegedly needs to reconstitute the Russian Empire, that possibly has a bit of little bit of a unique which means for him, arriving right here?
SEN. SULLIVAN: Properly, look, I feel he has no- I imply, who is aware of what they consider Alaska, however I do know what Alaskans take into consideration Russia. And , we’re a powerful state, like I stated. We have now huge energy proper right here. And so once more, I feel for all these causes, that is going to be a very vital summit.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So- he’s an indicted conflict legal, for a really particular crime of kidnapping Ukrainian youngsters. He is bombed hospitals in Syria. He is massacred individuals, ordered them at the very least, he’s- he is murdered lots of his personal individuals. He is used chemical weapons on British soil. That is why he is below this type of strain and U.S. sanctions. Actually, are you happy that he is this near dwelling?
SEN. SULLIVAN: Look, like I stated, I imply the- the half about—
MARGARET BRENNAN: You do not assume it normalizes that, that it forgives that, that it brings him again into the fold by giving him that picture op that makes him look so highly effective?
SEN. SULLIVAN: You recognize, peace is tough, proper? We have had excessive degree discussions with Reagan in Gorbachev, with Stalin, with Mao Zedong. I imply, that is what diplomacy is about, whenever you attempt to finish wars. And it’s- the way in which you finish wars is, you focus on them with the leaders of those international locations. Look, I am no fan of Vladimir Putin. I do not belief something he says. The secret is, after I assume what the president has performed whenever you’re coping with a dictator, is present up with energy, and that is what the president’s performed. Putin is coming to the negotiating tables as a result of he is threatened by these sanctions. The president is rebuilding our army, rebuilding our power sector, which is essential, essential to my state, and really importantly, as I already talked about, coordinating actually intently with one of many biggest strengths we’ve got, and that is our allies. We’re an ally wealthy nation. Putin is ally poor, and that is an enormous energy of ours.
So all of these items, I feel, you deal with the energy, get Putin to a ceasefire, and transfer ahead with Ukraine, Zelenskyy, our European allies, by way of the extra difficult parts of a peace negotiation. Nevertheless it begins with this. Begins with a ceasefire. And look, if President Trump assesses Putin shouldn’t be being trustworthy, you have seen, , a whole lot of frustration from the president not too long ago saying, hey, I’ve these good discussions with Putin, then he is out bombing, , hospitals and nursing properties. If he assesses that he is not severe, then, because the president stated, there will be extreme penalties. And I feel that is the sort of strain we have to carry on to attempt to get to what all people needs, which is an finish of this conflict.
END PART ONE RUSH TRANSCRIPT
