The following is a transcript of an interview with Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova that aired on “Face the Nation” on June 4, 2023.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador Oksana Markarova joins us for an replace. Good morning to you. It’s good to have you ever again with us.

UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. OKSANA MARKAROVA: Good morning. Always good to be again.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about what’s taking place now as a result of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated, U.S. skilled Ukrainian brigades have arrived in Ukraine they usually’ve been rehearsing, coaching and sustaining for weeks. He talked about the climate has improved. He’s describing the situations for that counter offensive to probably start very quickly. What are you anticipating in the coming days and weeks?

AMB. MARKAROVA: Well, , for us, counter offensive by no means stopped to be trustworthy. Since February 24 that is all we have been focusing on, find out how to liberate our land. But after all, with further commerce brigades, with further tools, with each cent that we’re working on now, we hope that our commanders, as quickly as they’ll see the openings, will begin this- whether or not it’ll be one or a number of counter offensives, however the sooner we are able to liberate all their territory and all our folks, after all, the higher. So I’ll word, after all, as you heard our President and our commanders, we won’t announce something, we’ll not- we’ll see it when the outcomes are there. But we expect to liberate extra quickly.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And your president stated ‘we’re prepared.’ Russia, although, all through the course of the week has been launching missile assaults, together with on the capital of Kyiv. They seem like testing your air defenses. And I do know President Zelenskyy has stated Ukraine wants extra Patriot missiles. Are you getting assist getting that type of air protection proper now? Is  the U.S. doing sufficient?

AMB. MARKAROVA: We’re very grateful for every thing we’re receiving. So, it is Patriots, it is NASAMS, it is all different capabilities, however we clearly want extra. So what Russians have been doing, once more for 466 days now, but in addition this week, , we have now seen how every day, a number of occasions a day, there have been lethal assaults by rockets, but in addition Shahed drones all- all the time. So it is the terror. It’s the destruction that it brings. But additionally it is the, , increasing our capabilities that we have now now we positively want extra

MARGARET BRENNAN: The Biden Administration launched one other 300 million in navy support. Some of that included drones. Are these surveillance drones, are these assault drones that the U.S. is giving?

AMB. MARKAROVA: It’s a spread of the drones so- and we want all of them. We want the surveillance, we want the assault drones, we want the kamikaze drones. So there will likely be totally different capabilities in the packages.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There is an upcoming NATO assembly in July that the president- President Biden is anticipated to attend and Ukraine’s, entry attainable entry, into the navy alliances is a subject there. Do what the U.S. goes to vow?

AMB. MARKAROVA: Well, all of us sit up for the summit. Ukraine has NATO aspirations, transatlantic aspirations–

MARGARET BRENNAN: For a while now.

AMB. MARKAROVA: – in our hearts, in our Constitution, and the majority of individuals help it. Since 2008, when the first declaration was made that we’ll be members of NATO, we consider it is time to begin discussing some particular steps in that regard. Now, once more, as President Zelenskyy stated, we’re realists. We perceive the limitations that the ongoing battle places to it, however I believe at this second, after this horrible violation of worldwide legislation, after Russia attacked us utterly not provoked after we weren’t a part of NATO, after historic selections on Finland and Sweden, it is time for everybody to appreciate that it is about good versus evil. And we should be members of NATO as a lot as NATO wants Ukraine additionally so as as a result of we have now rather a lot so as to add to NATO. So sure, we sit up for this discussion board to debate this.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Your president stated he is aware of this would not occur till after the battle is concluded, in different phrases, that the U.S. would not be drawn in on to this battle now, as a NATO member, however promise a future entry. What are the safety ensures that you’re on the lookout for?

AMB. MARKAROVA: Well, , the President Zelenskyy put out this peace system, which clearly outlines how the battle ought to finish and find out how to construct, restore the safety. So there may be quite a lot of components: it is navy safety, justice, rebuilding- rebuilding Ukraine, making certain that we are able to all collectively deter Russia from making it once more. And it is all been mentioned with- with companions individually, but in addition was the group. It was one in every of the objects mentioned at the G7 summit, at others. So it is a work in progress, however I believe, , the actual safety assure and never for Ukraine, however for transatlantic group and for our a part of the world however globally for everybody who believes in UN stature, is for us in the future to grow to be the member of the alliance. That is a peaceable defensive alliance of the folks with like minded values.

MARGARET BRENNAN: 45 billion in U.S. help to Ukraine has been pledged up to now. But that funding ends in September, they usually’ll need to be a request for extra. Are you involved about all the political pressures that will make that harder, notably going right into a presidential election 12 months?

AMB. MARKAROVA: Well, any democracy, and Ukraine and the U.S. are each democracies, have good democratic elections and processes. And sure, it is a further issue, however I consider American folks help us and we’re very grateful for American folks for the help we have now obtained. We will all the time keep in mind it. And I do know that the majority of politicians on either side of the aisle , equally, we have now this sturdy bipartisan help. And I actually hope that Ukraine will proceed uniting folks in Ukraine, even by way of this electoral course of,

MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, we will likely be watching intently in the coming days and weeks and pondering of Ukraine. Thank you for becoming a member of us. 

AMB. MARKAROVA: Thank you.