NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Sen. Mark Kelly, Rep. Tony Gonzales

0:00Margaret Brennan:I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington and this week on Face the Nation, President Trump invites Russia's Vladimir Putin to America, his first visit to U.S. soil in a decade. After months of Russia's skirting ceasefire offers while continuing their brutal onslaught in Ukraine, President Trump skipped past his own sanctions deadline and instead invited Putin to Alaska. I'll be meeting very shortly with President Putin. We'll hear from Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova about what her country needs to agree to a ceasefire. And we'll ask NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte what any deal might mean for European security.

0:42Margaret Brennan:We'll ask Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly and Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez, two lawmakers from border states, how the fresh infusion of cash from Trump's massive domestic policy bill is affecting mass deportation efforts. Finally, the Trump administration says it will slash funding for mRNA vaccine research, an emerging field used in COVID vaccines that also showed promise in treating cancer and HIV. We'll get analysis from Dr. Jerome Adams, who was Surgeon General in Trump's first term. It's all just ahead on Face the Nation.

1:33Margaret Brennan:Good morning and welcome to Face the Nation. President Trump has decided to bring Vladimir Putin in from the cold, ending isolation of the Russian leader and accused war criminal. His hope is to persuade Putin to finally do the thing he's refused, end Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two leaders will meet in Alaska, another part of the former Russian empire. With the future of European security on the line, Western leaders rush to get their word in, sending top advisers to meet with Vice President Vance in the United Kingdom, and they are planning to convene top diplomats tomorrow. In the meantime, President Trump is sending his envoy, Keith Kellogg, to Ukraine, as President Zelensky says his country will not simply gift territory to Russia.

2:21Margaret Brennan:We begin this morning with Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova. Good to have you back here, Ambassador. Good morning, America, and thank you for having me. Well, President Zelensky has made clear he's not just going to give away land to Russia. Kiev has to be part of the negotiations, and he has said a ceasefire needs to happen first. Do you expect a ceasefire this week? Well, that's something that all Ukraine Ukraine prays for President Trump to be effective and to have great results. And as you know, since the discussions here with President Trump, Ukraine agreed to full ceasefire, to partial ceasefires, to any type of ceasefires.

3:02Because again, let's remind everyone, Ukraine did not start this war. Putin started this war in 2014. He continued with full-fledged invasion in 2022. and it's Ukrainian citizens, Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian defenders on the front lines, Ukrainian children who suffer every day. So yes, we want Putin to stop. And we really are hopeful that this push from President Trump and the sanction packages which are on the table and secondary sanctions which are already implemented against those who help Russia will convince President Putin that this is time for him to finally stop his aggression.

3:41Margaret Brennan:But President Trump did blow past that deadline to put more sanctions on Russia and instead offered this meeting. We know that the White House says it's a one-on-one with Vladimir Putin at Putin's request, but that the president's open to some sort of trilateral meeting with President Zelensky. Is there anything being planned to bring Ukraine to the table? Well, Margaret, I can say sometimes diplomacy requires different formats, different meetings. And again, we appreciate President Trump not only pushing for the end of this war, but as you saw, Vice President Vance has been in Europe negotiating, discussing, having these very constructive meetings with our delegation, but also European leaders.

4:27Now, with regard to President Zelensky, he has been, since day one of this horrible aggression, committed to peace. And we have shown that he is ready to be anywhere to advance the agenda of peace. So if needed, President Zelensky, of course, will be present at the meetings. We have been very open about it, but let's see how this will go.

4:50Margaret Brennan:But he's not planning to be in Alaska on Friday. If he will be planning to do that, we'll be there. But you're waiting for that. We do know that Envoy Keith Kellogg is being sent to Kiev to speak with the Ukrainian government. So what is his role here? Is he going to be sort of conveying messages back and forth? What is it that needs to be negotiated in Kiev right now? Well, Special Envoy Kellogg has been a very important part of the U.S. team that works with us on a regular basis. Because, again, I mean, we're all focused on the upcoming summit, but there is so much more that we do together. The investment deal that not only we signed, but we are actually developing that strategic opportunity to cooperate between our countries on economic front.

5:43the weapons provision from the United States, but also buying American weapons and producing together, you know, big drone deal and other deals that our presidents discussed together. So there is a lot on our bilateral U.S.-Ukraine agenda, which, of course, all is at this moment related to horrible war, but not only. So we are always glad to see Keith Skellig in Kiev.

6:11Margaret Brennan:But what we know from our reporting is that envoy Wyckoff, Steve Wyckoff, went to Moscow. He was described, described to him was a Russian idea for some kind of settlement of the war. And it included carving up parts of Ukraine. Then on Friday, President Trump spoke publicly about what had happened. And he said President Zelensky has to get everything he needs ready because, quote, he's going to have to get ready to sign something, and I think he's working hard to get that done. What is he going to sign? What has been proposed? Special Envoy Vitkov is a special envoy on Russia, and he works with that counterpart.

6:55And we work with Vice President, with Secretary Rubio, with Special Envoy Kellogg, and with all team, and Secretary Bassett and others on everything on our bilateral agenda. Now, President Zelensky has been very clear. Ukraine is committed to peace. We will be very constructive in all of our discussions. At the same time, we have to again acknowledge the facts. You know, it's Russia that attacked us. It's Russia that illegally occupied Crimea and other territories since 2022. We do have the main Bible of the country, the constitution of Ukraine, which clearly lists in Article 133 that Ukraine comprises of and says what is it comprised of.

7:38Now, we all understand the reality on the ground, and we are ready to discuss, you know, how to end this war, and that's why ceasefire as a step has always been so important to stop the killing, something that President Trump has put on the table as early as February. So let's stop the killings and let's get to diplomacy. That's something Ukraine always was ready to do.

8:05Margaret Brennan:You're pointing to your constitution because your point is the president can't just give away land. It has to actually go and be considered because of how your constitution... The president of any country is a guarantor of the constitution. Vladimir Putin's constitution, though, now has these areas he's annexed from your country in his constitution. Yes. And everyone knows, and 142 countries at the UN clearly voted that that was illegal, unprovoked move on his part. And the court, as early as March 2022, International Court, has actually told Russia to stop their so-called special military operation and get out from Ukrainian territory.

8:50Margaret Brennan:Russia holds about 22 % of Ukrainian territory, I believe, at this point, is your concern that at this negotiating table in Alaska, Vladimir Putin is going to try to talk his way into further land seizures? Well, President Putin lied in 2022 that he was not going to attack Ukraine. Then he lied a number of times since 2022 that it wasn't him who bombed Mariupol Maternity Hospital, or it wasn't him who abducts and kills, kidnaps Ukrainian children and everything else. Now, I'm positive that President Trump and everyone here in the United States, and we are so grateful to American people for all the support, they understand that the implications of how this war will end is so much bigger than just about Ukraine.

9:37It is existential for us. But the concept of buffer zones or whatever, you know, this outdated old concepts from the previous century, they do not work anymore. The front line in East and South of Ukraine is the front line between evil and good. And the question is, when that front line is going to be? Is it going to be on our territory? Is it going to be on our borders? Or is it going to be in Europe and everywhere where it will affect Europe, U.S. and other? So, you know, we just have to it's not just about land. It's about the principles and values and judging by the recent decisions, including the sanctions on India for supporting Russia war machine, including on those sanctions that have been prepared, I am confident that U.S.

10:24will be coming from the position of strength, you know, peace through strength, and that will allow us together to find a solution to stop Russia's aggression.

10:34Margaret Brennan:Ambassador Markarova, thank you for your time today. We'll be right back. We turn now to NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta, who joins us from The Hague in the Netherlands. Welcome back to Face the Nation. Margaret, good to be back on the show. Good morning. Good morning. Well, Mr. Secretary General, big picture here. Is Russia's Vladimir Putin still a direct threat to the Western alliance, or is he showing some sign of dropping his aggression? He is still the main threat to the Western alliance, there's no doubt. and I think it is very good that President Trump will test him and we'll see how far he can get on Friday starting this process.

11:19He basically broke the deadlock, President Trump in February, starting the dialogue with Putin. I think that was crucial. We had a great NATO summit under his leadership committing to 5 % defense spending, so that is a clear signal to our main threat, which is Russia, that we are serious. And then he opened the floodgates three weeks ago of American lethal weapons to be delivered into Ukraine, coordinated by NATO, and of course, the secondary sanctions. He started them with putting them on India, which is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas.

11:52Margaret Brennan:Well, that is certainly the groundwork being laid. The concern is, of course, as you know, among some critics, that in this conference room in Alaska, we're going to see a 1938 moment where in an attempt to immediately halt a war, the groundwork is laid for an even bigger conflict because of concessions that are made. Are you comfortable with Ukraine being excluded from these negotiations on Friday? What will happen on Friday is testing Putin by President Trump. And I commend him for the fact that he organized this meeting. I think it is important and obviously when it comes to peace talks the ceasefire and what happens after that on territories on security guarantees for ukraine ukraine will have to be and will be involved but on friday it is important to see how serious putin is and the only one who can do that is president trump so it's really crucial that that meeting takes place it will not be the final say on this there will not be the final deal on this of course ukraine will have to be involved in Europe, but it is important to start the next phase of this process, putting pressure on the Russians, exactly as President Trump has been doing over the last six months.

13:09Margaret Brennan:You've been on these calls with President Trump, and I know that he briefed you on what envoy Witkoff discussed with Vladimir Putin this week. Can you tell us, is Russia still demanding that Ukraine drop its bid for NATO membership? Well, obviously, I cannot go into all the details. That would be strange. But But let me assure you the following, that we are all on the same page, the Americans, the Europeans and Ukraine, that when it comes to the geostrategic position of Ukraine in the future, when it comes to whatever is the size of the Ukrainian military, when it comes to NATO's posture on the eastern flank in countries like Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, that Putin has absolutely no say on any of these issues.

13:55Margaret Brennan:Well, you've said in the past there need to be strong security guarantees for Ukraine. Who is going to provide that if it's not NATO? Well, obviously, this is a discussion which is going on for some months now. We all pray for the moment when the ceasefire is there and hopefully a successful peace deal is done, but at least a ceasefire. And the Europeans, led by the French and the Brits, and NATO has been involved in those talks, but clearly led by Macron of France and Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, in close cooperation with the US, are discussing post the ceasefire, post the peace deal, how do we make sure that the security guarantees are in place?

14:38And this will be important also post next Friday, if this would lead the Friday session to more serious peace talks, because when it comes to territory, it will always go hand in hand with the security guarantees for Ukraine.

14:50Margaret Brennan:So I understand that there were NATO representatives listening in that meeting with Vice President Vance and European National Security Advisors yesterday. NATO has been coordinating the delivery of weapons purchased by NATO members to help out Ukraine. About a billion in military aid, I understand, has been facilitated from the U.S. to Ukraine. Are there plans that those weapons deliveries will continue regardless of what happens on Friday? Absolutely. They will continue. So we had the first two packages committed by the Dutch and then by the Scandinavians. I expect further announcements in the coming days and weeks.

15:33And this is crucial. But basically, President Trump, as I said, opening the floodgates of lethal military aid into Ukraine again, paid by the Europeans in Canada, which I think is only logical and fair. And this process has started, of course, on top of what the Europeans are already doing, including investing in the defense industrial base in Ukraine. And as you said, NATO is coordinating all of this through our command in Wiesbaden, making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight and be in the best possible position when it comes to negotiations on a ceasefire slash a peace deal.

16:09Margaret Brennan:And that's not up for negotiation on Friday? My absolute conviction on Friday is that this is President Trump making sure that Putin is serious. And if he is not, that will stop there. If he is serious, then from Friday onwards, the process will continue. Ukraine getting involved, the Europeans being involved, and the US is already coordinating, like you said, last night in London with Foreign Minister Lemmy of the United Kingdom, senior officials from NATO and European countries and the European Commission with the Vice President to make sure that we are all on the same page. Putin will never, ever be able to divide the alliance.

16:50The biggest foreign policy success of President Trump is the NATO summit, a united NATO, a united alliance, and Putin will never get in between us.

17:00Margaret Brennan:Well, we have to take President Trump at his word. And on Friday, when he spoke in front of the cameras, he said there will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both Ukraine and Russia. I mean, you know, Ukraine does not hold Russian land. And Russia has about 20 % of Ukraine. What is he talking about? Clearly, what will be on the table when real peace talks slash the ceasefire discussion will take place is this issue of, on the one hand, security guarantees. On the other hand, how to deal with the factual situation that the Russians are holding at this moment Ukrainian territory.

17:38Crucially important here is that when it comes to this holding of Ukrainian territory, that there might be a factual situation that they are doing this, but that we can never accept that in a legal sense, in as this is called a de jure sense. As you know, the U.S. hosted embassies of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia between 1940 and 1991, acknowledging that the Soviet Union was controlling those territories, but never accepting in a legal sense, in a de jure sense, that fact. So all these issues will be on the table, hopefully post-Friday, if Putin is serious and Putin then has to commit to sit down with Zelensky.

18:17He cannot do this through President Trump. In the end, it has to be, as President Trump has stated himself, a three-way conversation, at least with the Europeans heavily involved.

18:27Margaret Brennan:So do I understand what you're saying here correctly when you are talking about legal recognition? versus de facto, are you saying that basically the world is preparing to allow Russia to hold on to Crimea, the Donbass, the eastern part of Ukraine, but then just not legally recognize it? No, what I'm saying is that in the end, the issue of the fact that the Russians are controlling at this moment, factually, a part of Ukraine has to be on the table, that any discussion going forward from there will be with Ukrainians deciding on what they want to do in terms of... Because that sounds like you're saying they don't have to withdraw their troops.

19:11Well, obviously they have to, but factually they are controlling a part of Ukraine at this moment, as you said, and as Ukrainians have said before, if a ceasefire discussion takes place as soon as possible, and hopefully negotiations on a peace deal, there will be the debate on how to take that forward starting at the present line of contact. But it is crucial to know that when it comes to the future geopolitical situation of Ukraine, their sovereignty, there will be no infringements on that. And that it is always Ukraine itself deciding on what they want to do or not want to do in terms of a peace deal.

19:48Margaret Brennan:All right. Secretary Ruta, thank you for your time. We go now to Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, who joins us this morning from Tucson. Senator, President Trump could lift some but not all sanctions on Russia unless Congress agrees to do it. Is there any appetite to lift them? I don't have an appetite to lift them. Putin continues to execute an illegal war where he is intentionally killing women, children, old people. I visited Ukraine several months ago, went to a veterans hospital where nurses there just witnessed horrible atrocities. So I think, if anything, Margaret, we need to continue to put the pressure on Putin, on Russia, make them pay for this illegal war attacking our NATO ally.

20:46And I've got to say, I know you talked to Mark Ruda earlier in the ambassador about the visit on Friday in Alaska. And Margaret, I hope we got something out of this. Putin is a war criminal. This is not a show of strength to allow him to fly into the United States, to land here, to negotiate with our president. I don't know for certain. I don't know what was the ground rules that were set for this negotiation. But I would expect that this administration should have extracted something for this visit.

21:24Margaret Brennan:And we're trying to seek those details ourselves. Multiple intelligence officials have told my CBS colleague, Jim Laporta, that there was a U.S. directive in recent weeks that all Russia-Ukraine peace negotiation information should not be shared with our partners who are part of the Five Eyes, countries like Australia and the UK that share information with us. You sit on the Intelligence Committee. Were you aware of that directive and what does it indicate? I was not aware of it. We have a special relationship with those Five Eyes partners and I think that relationship makes all of us collectively safer.

22:10So if it was up to me, we would continue to share that information with those allies, restricting information about Russia, Ukraine, about the situation in Iran, about what's going on in Gaza or the Western Pacific with, you know, China just makes us all less safe. So I was not aware of it, but it does not seem like an appropriate thing to do.

22:41Margaret Brennan:We'll have more with Senator Markelly, Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez, and a conversation with former Surgeon General Jerome Adams about the future of vaccine research. We'll be right back.

23:17Margaret Brennan:Welcome back to Face the Nation. We return to our conversation now with Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. Senator, I know you were at an immigration and customs enforcement facility last week, and you posted about it, including a meeting you had with a detained woman who I understand has a son who is a United States Marine. And she had been in the U.S. for two decades, was babysitting her grandson on her son's base when she was detained. Are you asking or somehow managing to get her to be an exception to the rule to allow her to stay in the United States? Margaret, I spent about three hours or so over at the Eloy Detention Center and met with two women.

24:07in. One was Maria, the one you just mentioned, whose son was a U.S. Marine, whose daughter-in-law was a U.S. Marine, and the daughter-in-law needed to have an operation, so she came from New Jersey. She's lived in the country for 20 years, and then she winds up in CBP custody. I asked her about when her son graduated from boot camp and how that made her felt, and she started crying and said it was so proud. She was so proud that her son was a U.S. Marine. He's about to reenlist. This woman is no threat to society. I also met a business owner who's been in the United States for over 20 years. She's got 70 employees.

24:48She's got three restaurants. She's about to open another one. Again, this is a mom. Her daughter's a U.S. citizen. Her mother's a U.S. citizen. Sister's a US citizen, husband's a US citizen. Neither of these women are a threat to society. And what I saw at Eloy were a lot of moms and grandmothers who could be out with their families, who could be going to work as they go through whatever immigration process they're in. And for Maria, the mom of the Marine, there is a process that for somebody on active duty, that their parents have a process to become a permanent resident and eventually a U.S.

25:31citizen. And this is not where we should be. And I don't think this is what the American people wanted. Margaret, the border security issue under President Biden was not working. And I pushed the administration on that. But we have now swung drastically in another direction. And I don't think this is what the American people want either.