The next is the transcript of the interview with Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on March 8, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to the struggle in Ukraine, and Ukraine’s ambassador to the USA, Olga Stefanishyna. Welcome again to Face the Nation.
UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR OLGA STEFANISHYNA: Properly, Margaret, thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, one of many largest threats to Ukraine has been Russia’s ballistic missiles that it has been firing into your nation for a while. The answer has been the Patriot system, the American interceptors. They’re briefly provide, as you nicely know, and now America’s allies within the Gulf inform us that also they are in short-supply there and so they want them. Your president stated he’s involved America goes to scale back its air protection assist for Ukraine. How a lot of an issue is that this on your nation?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly, thanks, Margaret, for asking this query. After all, we now have been speaking about that publicly as nicely and have been having private discussions. However an important factor that we see that, you realize, the occasions taking place proper now with the struggle in Iran have been so resolute that most likely these are the most-important developments on a worldwide enviornment over a decade. So, no shortages of means must be a problem. And we’re certain that the American protection business is able to ensuring that each one the fronts are lined. Ukraine has the assets and skill to acquire extra, and we’re wanting ahead for exploring the choices, how you can do it. But in addition, you realize, we ended up with 4 300 Shahed drones over the homes of Ukraine, which was solely doable as a result of Iran has been a strategic enabler of the Russian aggression three years in the past, and we see what the involvement of low cost applied sciences is, and we now have been able to contribute.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, I requested that earlier in this system of the Power Secretary, Chris Wright, as a result of Russia and Iran have been allied right here. They’ve been buying and selling assets and expertise. They’re allied in some ways. He appeared to say they had been probably not an element. You say they’re immediately one.
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly, I imply, they’re completely an element, as a result of mainly the Shahed drone expertise was developed to assault folks, to demoralize inhabitants, to trigger the losses amongst civilians. So, it killed, like, lots of of Ukrainian youngsters, so many households, and this was a strategic enabler of struggle. And Russia has been- Russia weren’t investing in bilateral relations or growth or investments. They had been investing in regimes like Iran, Venezuela, and Syria, simply because they thought it is not doable to have the resolute motion as it’s now going down with Iran and because it was earlier than in Venezuela. And it was not doable a few years in the past with Syria. So, they’re disadvantaged of technique of their affect, they’re weaker. But in addition we should always not overlook that Ukraine has proven that Russia is not any totally different from all of those nations. It is simply greater, and we see that, you realize, the expertise which is being gained proper now, and the brand new actuality which is been shaped by President Trump additionally paves the best way, the brand new actuality for the Russians, and I am certain they’re actually, actually afraid of it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, your president stated he was requested by the USA to supply anti-drone expertise that Ukraine has to America. When does that arrive? When will that be operational?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: So, you realize, we perceive greater than anyone on this world what is required in a second of disaster. What is required whenever you see when your individuals are dying simply throughout so many cities of the Gulf nations. And what we instructed is the rapid motion and rapid response. So, we will safe the skies. We will present the air protection as a result of we now have a lot information. And these are solely Ukrainian folks, Ukrainian armed forces who’ve this information and functionality, so we’re capable of present it to the USA and the Gulf nations and that is what we did. We aren’t going to face apart figuring out that individuals are dying as a result of we all know how painful it’s and we’ll do all the pieces we will to be sure that this resolute motion is ending up with one thing that known as optimistic.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, sending advisors to assist. It feels like special–
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: And in addition capabilities. So, it is the drone capabilities of Ukraine is just not solely the drone or the folks, it is the entire spectrum of actions you are taking, as a result of scenario is altering each week and it’s good to have folks and the mechanism which permit to react instantly and that is what solely Ukraine has on the complete planet.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So just some days in the past, President Trump stated he thinks Vladimir Putin is able to make a deal. And he stated that Volodymyr Zelensky, your president, has to get on the ball, and he has to get a deal executed. And he referred to him as a P.T. Barnum of Ukraine. It looks like the connection continues to be actually tense, regardless that you are speaking about Ukraine serving to the USA. What is going on on right here?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly, I imply, I feel undoubtedly a few minutes of this dialogue is just not sufficient for that. However I feel we’re assessing the scenario by actions. And the actions are that there’s a mechanism the place Ukraine nonetheless can get entry to American army tools. President Trump has launched important sanctions to the Russian Federation during the last months. And in addition we’re in dialogue already trilaterally with the USA and Russians on ending the struggle. All of it is a essential growth and we’re wanting ahead for his or her success. However for us an important factor is that we’re capable of defend ourselves and safe our cities and we’re doing that to the extent we will with the American assist. And we now have by no means been too drained to offer credit score to President Trump for therefore many vital issues he did. Though the rhetorics we hear typically is just not one thing that actually very clear or very optimistic. However we’re a troublesome nation, we’re robust folks, we now have been via a lot that a few phrases is just not actually one thing that may distract us, and we all know what we all know, that Ukraine is a rustic on the planet which actually desires the struggle over greater than anyone, and that is the place we stand.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What proof do you might have that Russia helps Iran in its struggle proper now on these American allies?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: Properly, some info has been offered. It isn’t one thing that we’d wish to share, you realize, in a media or go public with. However I can even guarantee you that it is not solely Ukraine. There are, like, a variety of nations who’ve lots info and a disposal and intel neighborhood may be very nicely developed throughout all of the NATO codecs. So no matter info is there, it is already on the disposal of, you realize, all allies and companions, together with the USA. And. I am certain that is an info which is black and white. It is nothing which may very well be referred to as grey.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However it goes past sharing concentrating on info, which CBS has reported?
AMB. STEFANISHYNA: I am undecided that I might actually touch upon that, however I feel we should always look additionally within the context that Russia has been supporting the regimes of the nations I’ve talked about, like Venezuela, like Syria, like Iran, for years, and this partnership was doable and developed in constructing the productions within the Russian Federation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, thanks on your time at present.
