The next is a transcript of an interview with Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova that aired Sunday, February 20, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: Our interview with the Russian ambassador was taped earlier this morning earlier than we discovered from David Martin that Russian forces have truly acquired orders to invade. We flip now to the Ukrainian Ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova. Good morning and welcome again to this system, Ambassador.
AMBASSADOR OKSANA MARKAROVA: Good morning. It is at all times glad- joyful to be right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Given what we've discovered, do you imagine that there's nonetheless a window of alternative to really cease Russia from invading?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Effectively, we'll work day and evening to utilize any chance to nonetheless forestall Russia from invasion. However sadly, what we see over the past two days- or three days now tells us that opposite to what Mr. Antonov was simply saying, that not solely Russia amassed all of the troops across the border, however additionally they threw their unlawful armed formations in uncontrolled Donetsk and Lugansk began a sequence of provocations. They began shelling our civilian objects. They- we've already two folks useless, 11 folks wounded, and it retains going as we converse.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Was it vital to you in any respect that he mentioned people who a part of the East truly is a part of Ukraine?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Effectively, that half is- Donetsk and Lugansk is a part of Ukraine. Crimea is a part of Ukraine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: He disagreed with as you heard him.
AMB. MARKAROVA: Effectively, completely. However right here he disagrees with us and the remainder of the world.
MARGARET BRENNAN: President Zelensky known as for a stop fireplace this morning. What are you able to inform us about what is definitely taking place on the bottom and-and in a few of these diplomatic talks?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Effectively, President Zelensky's predominant concern, predominant concern is to protect the nation, but additionally protect each lifetime of Ukrainian residents. So, we're utilizing, whereas getting ready to defend our nation, we're utilizing each chance to nonetheless select the diplomatic path and pressure Russia to decide on the diplomatic path. So the whole lot from the UN, to OEC, to Vienna doc which we engaged to the consultations on, to Budapest memorandum. I imply, we're calling not solely on aggressor, which is Russia, but additionally on all of our buddies and allies to get collectively and use each alternative to nonetheless deter Russia from invading.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However your president- you're a diplomat. You might be selecting your phrases fastidiously. Your president was very sharp along with his yesterday, and he made clear that the West shouldn't be doing sufficient in his view. What are you asking Washington to do proper now?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Look, we're very grateful to the US, to everybody, to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary Blinken, Congress on a bipartisan foundation. We're very grateful for all of the help, army help, political help, robust messages, much more importantly for management in getting the transatlantic unity behind it and you already know, everybody getting collectively to help us. What we see proper now's all of the robust messages I get to get Russia not solely to get out from the borders of Ukraine, but additionally through the previous three days began an offensive.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Your president mentioned it was appeasement. Appeasement over the previous few years.
AMB. MARKAROVA: Effectively, once more, let me remind everybody we're at struggle, and we're underneath assault for the previous eight years, and may harsh sanctions or harsh reactions had been in place in 2014 and 2015, possibly at this time we might be discussing the rocket launch that was yesterday was the primary stage from Ukrainian corporations or another, extra peaceable objects to debate. However sadly, at this time we're beginning this morning as individuals are being shelled at in Ukraine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You had been beforehand Ukraine's finance minister. You labored within the Finance Ministry. I do know that Ukraine has come underneath unbelievable cyber assaults over the previous few years, and also you anticipate them to start out up. You've got already had the most important in your nation's historical past simply throughout the previous week. What particularly do you anticipate to occur within the subsequent few days? Goal your electrical grid? Your banks? Water? What ought to we be ready for?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Effectively, we anticipate the whole lot, sadly, and we all know that once more, our intelligence is now declassified and Putin publicly. A number of details about the ready terrorist acts on the and managed territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, but additionally warning about all potential cyber and knowledge assaults. So on cyber entrance, we discovered our classes from the earlier assaults through the earlier eight years, and we're particularly defending our monetary, electric- electrical and different essential methods for Ukraine. We will already see that couple every week in the past after we had one of many largest assault on our monetary and banking system, opposite to 2015 and 16, when these assaults resulted in huge breaches of safety and a few of the banks not been operational for days, this time it- the vast majority of banks weren't even affected. And a few of the banks had been again up fairly shortly. So once more, along with the US, we're working quite a bit on the cyber safety and prevention of the cyber assaults.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There have been quite a few stories in latest days that US intelligence has proof that Russia is creating a success listing of Ukrainians, of Russians, of different activists and political leaders residing exterior the nation. Are you involved about your personal security?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Troublesome query, however I feel all of us are involved about Ukraine and there are such a lot of Ukrainians which might be prepared to withstand and struggle for Ukraine in Ukraine, but additionally exterior of Ukraine. Now we have nice neighborhood right here in the US as properly in order that, you already know, no matter they may in no matter crimes they're keen to commit with the intention to kill a few of us, it is not going to cease others and it'll not assist their trigger.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, thanks in your time at this time. Thanks. We'll be again in a second.