The next is a transcript of an interview with Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba that aired Sunday, April 17, 2022, on “Face the Nation.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: Now to the International Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba. Minister, welcome again to this system. Mariupol governor says the town has been wiped off the face of the earth. How lengthy can Ukrainian forces resist Russian management of that metropolis?
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA: The state of affairs in Mariupol is each dire militarily and heartbreaking. The town does not exist anymore. The remainings of the Ukrainian military and enormous group of civilians are principally encircled by the Russian forces. They proceed their wrestle, however it appears from the way in which the Russian military behaves in Mariupol, they determined to raze the town to the bottom at any value.
MARGARET BRENNAN: President Zelensky mentioned the elimination of army forces in that metropolis will imply an finish to all negotiations with Russia. Have you ever been instructed to cease contact with Russian diplomats?
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA: Nicely, we did not actually have any contacts with Russian diplomats in current weeks on the degree of international ministries. The one degree of contact is the negotiating group that consists of representatives of assorted establishments and members of Parliament. They’ll proceed their consultations on the knowledgeable degree, however no excessive degree talks are happening. After Bucha, it was- it turned significantly tough to proceed speaking with the Russians. However as my president talked about, Mariupol could also be a purple line.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The overall workers of the armed forces of Ukraine mentioned final month that Russian troopers have been being advised the battle should finish by Might the ninth. What precisely are you anticipating within the coming weeks?
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA: Intensification of heavy combating in japanese Ukraine, in Donbas, massive scale offensive of Russia in that a part of Ukraine. And likewise determined makes an attempt of the Russian forces, as I mentioned, and to- to complete with Mariupol at any value. These are my expectations. And, after all, missile assaults on Kyiv and different cities throughout Ukraine appear to proceed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: This previous week, President Zelensky launched pictures of a Ukrainian oligarch with shut ties to Vladimir Putin. His identify: Viktor Medvedchuk, saying that Ukrainian forces had captured him. He had been concerned in a plot to take over your authorities. What does Ukraine intend to do with him? Did U.S. intelligence help in that seize?
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA: Nicely, he is the citizen of Ukraine, so he’ll get pleasure from all procedural rights as a result of we’re a rustic of the rule of regulation. After which his future shall be determined as a part of, on the one hand, authorized course of and then again, the political course of. We don’t exclude any political choices. However as I mentioned, we’re a rustic of the rule of regulation. And at the beginning, he’ll face accountability for the crimes he dedicated towards Ukraine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What precisely was he concerned with right here? How a lot contact did he have with Russia? What do you imply, political answer?
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA: Nicely, he was extraordinarily near President Putin. Actually, Vladimir Putin is alleged to be the godfather of one of many daughters of Mr. Medvedchuk. I believe- I consider this reality speak- reality speaks for itself. After I talked about political- political options, you already know that the spokesperson to President Putin, Mr. Peskov, mentioned that Russia has no curiosity in- in exchanging Mr. Medvedchuk. However we’ll see how the state of affairs evolves.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The White Home says President Biden won’t go to Ukraine. Numerous different world leaders have carried out so. Is it vital to you to see a excessive degree U.S. official come? Is it vital for the Individuals to reopen the embassy in Ukraine?
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA: Because the starting of the brand new wave of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, President Biden has demonstrated true management in serving to offering help to Ukraine, in mobilizing worldwide neighborhood to help Ukraine. So after all, we’d be joyful to see him in our nation and it will be an vital message of help to us. And naturally, a private assembly between two presidents may additionally pave the way in which for brand new provides and of weapons- of American- US weapons to Ukraine and in addition for discussions on the political- potential political settlement of this battle.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, we’ll see if any officers are despatched. I do need to ask you a few report that got here out this week. 45 completely different nations who’re a part of the OSCE, the Group for Safety and Cooperation in Europe, had this investigation into battle crimes. And it was- it primarily faulted Russia. It was a catalog of horrors, however it additionally faulted Ukraine for failing to tell the Crimson Cross as soon as Ukrainian forces had recognized Russian troopers utilizing facial recognition know-how. And in keeping with this report, Ukraine’s apparently sending the pictures to the households of the useless. Is that correct?
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA: Nicely, the federal government of Ukraine isn’t conducting any such actions. However because it was talked about in the- within the report aired earlier than my look in your present, while you uncover 900 our bodies of civilians killed, tortured, when you already know that 1000’s have been raped. After all, there’s a folks’s rage and folks’s need to deliver these accountable for that to account. And we as the federal government work on authorized methods to deliver these accountable for these crimes to accountability.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It additionally mentioned Ukraine has not permitted the Crimson Cross to go to prisoners of battle. Will Ukraine decide to doing so and to analyze battle crimes by its personal nationals in case you discover that some have been dedicated?
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA: Nicely, I’ve good causes to complain on the way in which the Crimson Cross rolled out its operations in Ukraine for the reason that starting of the battle and on the go to of the president of the Crimson Cross to Moscow and the way in which it was dealt with. However I do not do it as a result of we have now an excellent working relationship with the Crimson Cross and we kind out all points on the working degree within the spirit of cooperation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, Mr. International Minister, thanks for becoming a member of us as we speak.
