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, hey.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I perceive this can be a very intense week on your nation for a lot of causes, together with the diplomacy that is taking place proper now as we sit right here in Geneva. Your president stated Ukraine faces a selection between dropping its dignity or dropping a key ally, america. What has been agreed to at this level?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Nicely 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 slightly bit earlier. These consultations are nonetheless proceed on the idea of the proposal of the American facet on 28 level peace plan, as it has been known as right here. And European allies are additionally current in Geneva lately to work hand in hand with the Ukrainian delegation, but additionally with the American delegation to debate the proposals on our and on their facet. So the consultations are nonetheless ongoing, however there was a lot of factors which have been already extensively mentioned in public.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you conscious of Russia making any concessions at this level?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Nicely, it doesn’t appear this manner from the proposal which is on the desk. In truth- actually, not one of the factors are literally associated to- to forcing something on the Russian facet. In fact, it is acknowledged that it is- it’s aggression. There may be a lot of factors associated to return of hostages and- and prisoners of warfare, of a humanitarian nation. However that is positively not concerning the justice. This plan isn’t concerning the justice and the reality of this warfare and- and the aggression. It is about, , ending the warfare and stopping the army engagement.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is unfair to Ukraine, you are saying.
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Nicely once more, I believe this needs to be divided. This plan isn’t about justice, , and this plan is about a lot of actions proposed as a part of estimated settlement between Ukraine and probably Russian Federation. Ukraine is in intensive engagement in a really constructive manner with the American facet and beneath the umbrella of U.S. management, these discussions are ongoing, and we imagine that the honest peace isn’t the phrases, however that is one thing that needs to be placed on paper. So, sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you ever been instructed that america will lower off army and intelligence sharing if President Zelenskyy would not comply with this plan by Thursday?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: I believe it’s- it’s very unfair to- to American colleagues and companions to cite this or that statements which had been weighed- which had been executed in course of, , varied conferences and cellphone calls. There was fairly just a few, , we had a primary senior army go to to Ukraine by Secretary of Military Driscoll since- since we gained the independence in 1991. And I had a gathering with him as properly right here in Washington. And his function is extremely- extraordinarily clear to us. We additionally had an engagement between president and vice chairman on a cellphone name. There was, like, a number of discussions. A few of them had been extra emotional. Some were- them had 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 isn’t a part of this course of formally.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, the- the Wall Avenue Journal is reporting that along with these 28 factors, there is a separate doc that has to do with safety ensures. I’ve additionally been instructed that there is a separate doc with safety ensures.
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Journal is reporting that it is 10 years of assist, nevertheless it would not commit the U.S. to offer direct army help. What ensures would you like from america?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Nicely, 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 structure of what safety ensures is. That’s the like doc specifying the intention that U.S. authorities is dedicated to offering safety assurances, that are like one thing just like the Article 5 of the Washington NATO Treaty. So it’s- it is nonetheless very totally different, and it specifies it has been in a public entry so it has been publicly leaked as properly, 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, a number of nuances, and that is to be mentioned.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Oh, I see. So that you’re saying you desire a clear safety assure that claims in the event you’re invaded, or in the event you’re attacked, together with by surrounding international locations which are 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 now have, like the actual doc in entrance of our eyes and what’s actually necessary that we had- we’re very sophisticated accomplice for U.S., as a result of we additionally had a number 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 now have realized our classes and we face the aggression for 3 and a half 12 months and we realized.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I’ve to ask you. U.S. and European officers inform me that the trajectory on the battlefield for Ukraine isn’t good, notably 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 type of a gateway to the jap half, that the Donbas. How do you reply to the argument that Ukraine is dropping on the battlefield and that you should negotiate now?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Nicely, Ukraine is among the largest European international locations, and on the common, inside one week, there are greater than 1,000 fight engagements taking place on all of the entrance line, and Russia is making an attempt to current that it is solely taking place in Pokrovsk, proper? So this can be a victorious narrative Russia is utilizing as a techniques of pressuring or altering the truth additionally right here in america. That is why I imply Pokrovsk is a vital spot on the entrance line, however positively not the one one.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, thanks on your time this morning. We’ll be proper again.
