The next is a transcript of an interview with Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova that aired Sunday, July 24, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: At the moment marks 5 months since Russia launched a full scale conflict on Ukraine. The invasion has value tens of hundreds of lives and it has roiled the worldwide economic system. For a take a look at the place the battle stands now we're joined by Ukraine's ambassador to america, Oksana Makarova. Madam Ambassador, it is good to have you ever again on this system.
AMBASSADOR OKSANA MARKAROVA: Good morning and thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about what simply occurred up to now 24 to 48 hours, there's an estimated 20 million metric tons of grain caught in Ukraine – cannot get out. That is contributing to meals inflation and meals shortages around the globe. So lower than 24-hours after signing this UN dealer deal to permit Ukraine's grain to export, Russia despatched missiles into the Odessa port metropolis the place that grain could be transiting. That is what the State Division says. Your authorities stated it is like spit within the face of the UN in Turkey. However you are sticking with the deal. Why?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Nicely, what occurred within the port is so Russian, and it's totally telling about what has been occurring for the previous eight years. For the previous eight years, Ukraine all the time acted in good religion and tried every part attainable and generally not possible, to finish the conflict. And to return our sovereignty related with this 151 days. We're defendant we're standing robust in defending our nation. And on the identical time, we are going to discover any choices with a purpose to resolve the disaster. It is like this meals disaster that Russia has created for different nations, not just for Ukraine. So we are going to do every part with a purpose to carry out and fulfill our a part of the deal. Now when Russia is violating it, they're clearly displaying who they're, and that they should be stopped.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So is Russia technically violating it? As a result of unnamed UN officers are quoted as saying it- they might not have as a result of Russia by no means pledged to keep away from attacking the components of the Ukrainian ports that aren't instantly used for grain exports. Actually? It looks like a fairly large oversight?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Nicely, let's name it what it's. Every thing Russia is doing in Ukraine is a violation of just about each worldwide regulation, taking a- a sovereign nation is a violation. It is a conflict crime. So we've got the take care of UN and with our colleagues from Turkey. We're fulfilling the deal. They agreed additionally with Russia, and so they must first cease the conflict, you understand, and so they must do every part with out even any initiative indicators. However with this, I believe they simply displaying their true face once more. So the great response to that ought to be extra weapons to Ukraine in order that we are able to defend ourselves, we are able to get them out from our nation. And we are able to unblock our ports. And unblock all Ukraine so as not solely to ship the grain, however the sunflower and every part else that has been caught in Ukraine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper, that impacts your child system that impacts meals shares for every part, but- however does this assault make it make that meals disaster worse? Will this damage your capacity to export what little is getting out?
AMB. MARKAROVA: We are going to do every part attainable and we're exporting even now by the western border, in fact, the capability --
MARGARET BRENNAN: – by land
AMB. MARKAROVA: –by land, by railroad, by all attainable methods and we are going to proceed doing so. Our farmers are even planting and harvesting below the hearth. So we are going to as we defend the nation, we are going to proceed additionally to rebuild on the identical time and plant and do every part attainable to feed us and feed the world. Hopefully, and we see already good outcomes of the brand new HIMARS and artillery being offered to us, that can permit us to go onto- on the counter offensive and free our territory which we have to don't just for grain, but in addition to avoid wasting our individuals.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So your First Woman was right here in Washington and addressed Congress and particularly requested for air protection techniques. We all know the U.S. has pledged to ship Nationwide Superior Floor-to-Air missile techniques, however they have not truly arrived in Ukraine but. Is that what she was referring to? And what particularly are you asking for?
AMB. MARKAROVA: Sure, very efficient go to of the First Woman. And her message that whereas Russia kills, America saves I believe have been heard by everybody right here. And sure, we're speaking concerning the NASAMS and different protection techniques. We're additionally speaking about extra firepower, extra artillery, extra HIMARS, which simply final Friday we heard the announcement of extra coming –
MARGARET BRENNAN: These are precision-guided rockets.
AMB. MARKAROVA: Precisely. And we already see that with that tools that may be very successfully utilized by our defenders. We're capable of destroy the ammo dumps that Russia is creating on the uncontrolled territories, and that we're truly shifting into free in additional territories within the south and hopefully, with a ample variety of weapons. We are able to do the identical within the east, however the scenario stays very, very troublesome nonetheless.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It's and we all know now U.S. intelligence says Russia controls about 20 p.c–
AMB. MARKAROVA: That is proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –of Ukraine. I need to ensure that I deliver this up with you as a result of it was so deeply disturbing after I heard it. A State Division official, Ambassador Toria Nuland stated, "Russia makes orphans after which it steals orphans." She stated as much as 1,000 Ukrainian kids have been stolen and given to Russian households. What precisely is going on? What can the U.S. authorities or the American individuals do about it?
AMB. MARKAROVA: It has been one of many key pleas of the First Woman right here on all uncontrolled territories from Mariupol to different locations, Russia is forcefully deporting not solely adults and households, however particularly kids. And Russians themselves already admitted that 350,000 kids have been evacuated, as they are saying, however kidnapped, let's name it the way- what it's to Russia. They've relaxed their very own laws with a purpose to permit them to be adopted rapidly into Russian households. It is a brutal violation not solely of worldwide regulation, however of a standard decency, how are you going to steal our youngsters and check out to- attempt to conceal them someplace in Russia, solely 47 Kids, we have been capable of return to Ukraine proper now. And as of April- August 1, Ukraine will probably be beginning a platform, kids at conflict, which is able to permit individuals all through the globe, together with Russia so as to add info they- about all the youngsters, it is our first precedence to find, discover them and return them. And it's totally troublesome as a result of we do not have management over these territories.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And do you have got any hope that you would be able to truly return these kids with out america or different nations getting concerned?
AMB. MARKAROVA: We'd like everybody who can to get entangled. And I can guarantee you that everybody in Ukraine won't relaxation till all of them are situated and returned.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, thanks very a lot in your time. We'll be again in a second.