Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, expressed confidence that the U.S. will act from a position of strength and that a joint solution will be found to end Russia’s aggression.
She said this in an interview with CBS News, Ukrinform reports.
“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. […] I am confident that U.S. will 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,” the diplomat said.
Commenting on the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska, she noted that “all Ukraine prays for President Trump to be effective and to have great results.”
Markarova recalled that Ukraine had agreed “to a full ceasefire, to partial ceasefires, to any type of ceasefires.”
“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,” she said.
The ambassador stressed that Zelensky, “since day one of this horrible aggression, has been committed to peace, and we have shown that he is ready to be anywhere to advance the agenda of peace.” “If needed, President Zelensky, of course, will be present at the meetings,” she added.
Markarova stressed that it was Russia that attacked Ukraine, illegally occupying Crimea and other territories.
“We do have the main Bible of the country, the constitution of Ukraine, which clearly says in Article 133 what is it comprised of,” she said, showing the nation’s basic law, which she had brought to the interview.
“Let’s stop the killings, and let’s get to diplomacy. That’s something Ukraine always was ready to do,” she said.
At the same time, she warned against ideas such as “buffer zones” or partitioning Ukraine, calling them “old concepts from the previous century.”
On Facebook, Markarova noted that “for the first time in years of active interviews in the U.S., I brought our Constitution to the broadcast — it contains the answers to questions about Ukraine’s territory.”
Trump intends to meet with Putin in Alaska on August 15.
Zelensky stressed that Putin wants to trade a pause in the war for the legalization of Russia’s occupation of part of Ukraine’s territory.
According to NBC News, the White House is considering inviting Zelensky to Alaska on August 15.
Photo: Oksana Markarova / Facebook
Source: Markarova sure US will negotiate with Russia from position of strength
