WEBVTT 00:01.300 --> 00:03.366 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Thirty-two years ago today, 00:03.366 --> 00:06.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% back in 1991, Ukraine issued a Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union. But, 00:08.933 --> 00:12.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% as we know, today, Ukraine is fighting to be free of Russian attacks and occupations. 00:12.700 --> 00:14.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Nick Schifrin has the story. 00:14.766 --> 00:19.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: In a country at war, independence is not celebrated, but commemorated. 00:21.400 --> 00:26.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena, gave thanks to all those killed in the 00:26.033 --> 00:31.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% country's existential war. And they sang the national anthem. It's titled "Ukraine 00:33.100 --> 00:36.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Has Not Yet Perished," a dark, but determined call to one day celebrate a new independence. 00:38.800 --> 00:40.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian President (through translator): Ukrainian children 00:40.900 --> 00:43.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% on Ukrainian squares and streets will celebrate the independence of Ukraine. 00:43.633 --> 00:46.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% NICK SCHIFRIN: The only parade today, prizes of 00:46.466 --> 00:50.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% war. Residents of Kyiv walked through lines have burned-out Russian vehicles. 00:52.566 --> 00:56.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But, still, the war grinds on. Ukrainian soldiers evacuated residents from a newly 00:56.900 --> 01:01.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% recaptured town in Ukraine's south. Robotyne was obliterated by Russian occupation and the 01:03.866 --> 01:07.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Ukrainian counteroffensive. Now the blue and the yellow fly atop what used to be 01:07.133 --> 01:12.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% a school. Ukraine also says soldiers landed in Russian-occupied Crimea. It's a direct challenge 01:13.966 --> 01:17.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to Russian control and President Vladimir Putin's most prized Ukrainian territory. 01:17.500 --> 01:21.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Today, in Moscow, Putin praised the legacy of the Yevgeny Prigozhin, 01:21.700 --> 01:24.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the one-time-Kremlin-soldier-turned-traitor, 01:24.400 --> 01:28.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% who died yesterday in a plane crash the U.S. believes was likely intentional. 01:28.666 --> 01:31.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (through translator): I want to note that these people 01:31.066 --> 01:36.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% made a significant contribution to our common cause of fighting the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine. 01:38.066 --> 01:41.366 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% NICK SCHIFRIN: But that fighting has caused Ukrainians unimaginable loss. In the western 01:41.366 --> 01:45.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% city of Lviv today, Ukrainians walked through a cemetery that continues to grow. 01:47.900 --> 01:51.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Ievhenia Demchuk carried her son to his father's grave. Ihor was a combat medic 01:53.966 --> 01:57.366 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% killed three weeks ago. They moved here to this city from Central Ukraine to be close to him. 01:58.566 --> 02:00.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% IEVHENIA DEMCHUK, Widow (through translator): 02:00.733 --> 02:05.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We lived for each other. I have no right to leave him here. That's why we raised defenders, 02:08.100 --> 02:11.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% our boys. I now have to take care of him by myself. 02:13.266 --> 02:17.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Today, he turns 2 years old. Dad was very proud of him. He called him his little independence. 02:22.200 --> 02:27.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: The U.S. estimates that Ukrainian fatalities and wounded since 02:29.933 --> 02:34.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% last February is full-scale invasion to be as high as 150,000, not to mention 02:34.900 --> 02:39.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the millions of Ukrainian civilians who have been displaced, wounded and killed. 02:41.800 --> 02:43.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% For more, we turn to Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. 02:43.900 --> 02:45.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Ambassador, thank you very much. Welcome back to the "NewsHour." 02:45.833 --> 02:46.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States: Thank you for having me. 02:48.166 --> 02:50.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: Let's start with the counteroffensive. 02:50.266 --> 02:54.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And some U.S. officials, to me and two other reporters, have been blunt. They have been 02:56.800 --> 03:00.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% concerned about some Ukrainian military strategic decisions. These U.S. officials worried that 03:02.733 --> 03:06.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Ukraine is putting too many soldiers in the east, rather than the south, too many Western weapons 03:06.166 --> 03:10.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% are going to the east, rather than the south, which is the front of this counteroffensive. 03:10.966 --> 03:13.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% What's your response to those concerns? 03:13.000 --> 03:17.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, first of all, we have big trust in our military commanders. 03:17.733 --> 03:22.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I think, since the start of this full-phased war, they have shown that they are very capable, 03:25.200 --> 03:28.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% they know what they're doing. We have been able to liberate 03:28.133 --> 03:33.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% more than 50 percent of what Russia has taken since February 24. And, frankly, 03:35.100 --> 03:38.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I have never heard in the conversations with the officials any criticism. 03:38.500 --> 03:42.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We all understood from the very beginning that it's going to be very difficult summer 03:42.600 --> 03:47.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% campaign. We knew that the enemy is well-prepared. We also know that enemy, 03:49.200 --> 03:53.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Russians, do not -- have disregard for any human life. You have seen 03:54.733 --> 03:56.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% what they have done with Robotyne, what they have done with Marinka. 03:56.766 --> 03:58.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% They simply destroy everything within... 03:58.900 --> 04:01.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: These are towns that Ukraine has now moved into as part of the counteroffensive. 04:01.600 --> 04:03.700 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Yes. Yes. 04:03.700 --> 04:07.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But when our defenders are liberating them, they're trying to be very careful, 04:09.400 --> 04:12.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% because they are liberating our people. So we knew it's going to be difficult. We knew 04:12.400 --> 04:17.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% it's going to take all we have, and it still will require many more capabilities and more weapons. 04:20.266 --> 04:25.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But we didn't lose any sense as the summer campaign started, and we keep moving forward. 04:26.700 --> 04:28.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: There are some intelligence estimates that fear 04:28.600 --> 04:33.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Ukraine will not reach one of its main goals, Melitopol in the south. 04:33.166 --> 04:38.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% What's your response to that skepticism, that doubt that is inside the U.S. government? 04:40.200 --> 04:43.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: We have one goal, to liberate all Ukraine. And we will reach that goal. 04:45.466 --> 04:49.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Now, how much time, weapons, energy it will take, that's -- of course, nobody knows that. 04:53.500 --> 04:58.500 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% But I have been recently in Kyiv, spoke with all our commanders. They know it's difficult, 05:02.133 --> 05:07.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% but they also are very optimistic. And now, with all the new packages that we hear from 05:09.166 --> 05:13.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% the U.S. and other allies, hopefully, with more longer distance, we are very eager to train. 05:15.333 --> 05:17.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% NICK SCHIFRIN: Long-distance weapons. 05:17.400 --> 05:21.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Yes, we're very eager to train on all the new capabilities and F-16s. 05:22.900 --> 05:25.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% All of that will help us to liberate Ukraine faster. 05:25.700 --> 05:29.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% NICK SCHIFRIN: The U.S. announced today that Ukrainian pilots will 05:29.200 --> 05:34.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% be training in the U.S. for F-16s. Yet the U.S. still does not send some of 05:34.000 --> 05:38.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the weapons that Ukraine is asking for, some long-range weapons known ATACMS. 05:38.100 --> 05:43.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Does Ukraine have a plan if it doesn't or if it can't reseize all the territory you hope for? 05:45.033 --> 05:49.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, we have, again, one strategic goal, to liberate all Ukraine. 05:51.733 --> 05:54.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We have our peace formula plan, which President Zelenskyy is very active, 05:54.766 --> 05:59.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and not only discussing with the leaders, but also we have a number of subgroups on the 10 steps, 06:01.766 --> 06:05.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% which have been discussed right now. And, again, we have focused on the goal. And 06:07.866 --> 06:12.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we're positive that, if we are all united, and if we do it together, we can reach it. 06:14.066 --> 06:16.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And, actually, we have to reach it, not for the sake of Ukraine, 06:16.433 --> 06:19.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% but for the sake of all of us who believe in the same principles. 06:19.033 --> 06:22.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: The Biden administration uses the term as long as it takes. 06:22.300 --> 06:27.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% But on that united aspect of this, there are some doubters within the Republicans who are just now, 06:29.633 --> 06:34.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% as of last night, debating in the Republican primary. And let me show you one of the quotes 06:36.600 --> 06:40.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% from Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman who's running for president: "We are protecting 06:43.100 --> 06:46.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% against an invasion across somebody else's border in Ukraine, when we should use those same military 06:48.300 --> 06:52.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% resources to prevent the invasion of our own Southern border here in the United States." 06:54.266 --> 06:57.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Are you fearful that someone like him or someone who feels that way 06:57.633 --> 07:01.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% could become president of the U.S. and reduce support to Ukraine? 07:01.600 --> 07:06.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well it's an internal matter of the U.S. who will become the president. And, 07:08.533 --> 07:11.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of course, as a democracy, Ukraine welcomes the democratic process. And 07:11.200 --> 07:14.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% it's up to the American people who American people will elect. 07:14.133 --> 07:19.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% What I will say is, I was great -- I was glad to hear yesterday when 07:21.166 --> 07:24.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I was watching the debate that almost everyone else understood very clearly 07:26.166 --> 07:29.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that actually supporting Ukraine is in the U.S. national interests. 07:29.733 --> 07:34.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% If we want to deter other autocrats, if we want to restore the order, 07:36.666 --> 07:40.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% which is the basis -- the world order, which is basis for the prosperity for 07:40.900 --> 07:45.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% all -- of all civilized world as we know it after the World War II, if we want to send a 07:47.833 --> 07:52.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% resounding message that democracies not only can defend themselves, but help each other, 07:54.000 --> 07:57.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and if we want to contain this war, to defeat Russia while it's still in Ukraine, and not to 08:00.233 --> 08:04.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% involve other NATO members -- and Putin has been very clear that his threat is to everyone else. 08:05.633 --> 08:08.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Then it's the right and effective, actually, 08:08.633 --> 08:12.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% choice to continue supporting Ukraine so we can win faster. 08:12.266 --> 08:16.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: But -- yes, Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., 08:16.000 --> 08:20.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% former Vice President Mike Pence did express their support, the establishment candidates. 08:20.433 --> 08:22.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% But the person who wasn't on the stage last night, 08:22.533 --> 08:27.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% former President Donald Trump, has also questioned whether he would send aid, 08:27.000 --> 08:31.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% as much aid, to Ukraine. And he's by far the front-runner. So do you acknowledge 08:31.366 --> 08:35.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that there is some erosion of Ukraine's support among at least part of the Republican Party? 08:35.866 --> 08:40.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, the majority of Americans, 08:40.800 --> 08:45.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% whether Democrats or Republicans, support Ukraine. We have seen it in 08:47.766 --> 08:51.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% all polls. I see it outside when I walk in Washington, D.C., but also when I travel. 08:53.466 --> 08:56.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% I just recently traveled to Ohio. Overwhelming support. People understand -- and American 08:58.433 --> 09:02.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% people are not only very generous people, but also people who are brave and free, 09:04.533 --> 09:08.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% as your anthem says, people who believe that, when injustice is done somewhere, or, 09:10.033 --> 09:14.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% as Martin Luther King said, the threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. 09:18.333 --> 09:22.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I feel from the American people that they understand it, 09:22.133 --> 09:25.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and they understand how important it is for all of us to win. 09:25.533 --> 09:30.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% NICK SCHIFRIN: Finally, we saw in the story that preceded us the 09:30.166 --> 09:34.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% reports of Yevgeny Prigozhin's death yesterday and the U.S. assessment. 09:34.433 --> 09:39.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% President Zelenskyy today said Ukraine was not behind Prigozhin's death, 09:39.100 --> 09:44.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but -- quote -- "Everyone realizes who has a relationship to his death." 09:44.700 --> 09:46.433 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% Who's that? 09:46.433 --> 09:50.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, we see war criminals not only attacking Ukraine, 09:51.633 --> 09:54.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% but also killing each other on a regular basis. 09:54.100 --> 09:57.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And, frankly, everyone in Russia, from President Putin, to all the commanders on the battlefield, 09:59.500 --> 10:03.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% whether they are commanders and official ministers of defense, or thugs like late Prigozhin, 10:05.700 --> 10:10.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% they all are war criminals. And when they decide to kill each other, it's their internal issue. 10:12.666 --> 10:16.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But I think it's again showing how fragile and -- Russia is and how this aggressive, 10:23.133 --> 10:27.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% senseless war that they have started against Ukraine is actually ruining their regime. 10:27.800 --> 10:31.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: But does Ukraine believe that Vladimir Putin killed Yevgeny Prigozhin? 10:31.400 --> 10:36.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, if -- when our intelligence will have this information, 10:38.333 --> 10:40.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% they will say it. Of course, I will be more than happy to confirm it. 10:40.766 --> 10:45.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But at this -- at the moment now, I think nobody knows it for sure. But 10:46.766 --> 10:48.466 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% we cannot exclude it, of course. 10:48.466 --> 10:51.733 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% NICK SCHIFRIN: Ambassador Oksana Markarova, thank you very much. 10:51.733 --> 10:52.800 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% OKSANA MARKAROVA: Thank you.