1 00:00:01,300 --> 00:00:03,366 GEOFF BENNETT: Thirty-two years ago today, 2 00:00:03,366 --> 00:00:06,966 back in 1991, Ukraine issued a Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union. But, 3 00:00:08,933 --> 00:00:12,700 as we know, today, Ukraine is fighting to be free of Russian attacks and occupations. 4 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:14,766 Nick Schifrin has the story. 5 00:00:14,766 --> 00:00:19,400 NICK SCHIFRIN: In a country at war, independence is not celebrated, but commemorated. 6 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:26,033 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena, gave thanks to all those killed in the 7 00:00:26,033 --> 00:00:31,033 country's existential war. And they sang the national anthem. It's titled "Ukraine 8 00:00:33,100 --> 00:00:36,966 Has Not Yet Perished," a dark, but determined call to one day celebrate a new independence. 9 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:40,900 VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian President (through translator): Ukrainian children 10 00:00:40,900 --> 00:00:43,633 on Ukrainian squares and streets will celebrate the independence of Ukraine. 11 00:00:43,633 --> 00:00:46,466 NICK SCHIFRIN: The only parade today, prizes of 12 00:00:46,466 --> 00:00:50,633 war. Residents of Kyiv walked through lines have burned-out Russian vehicles. 13 00:00:52,566 --> 00:00:56,900 But, still, the war grinds on. Ukrainian soldiers evacuated residents from a newly 14 00:00:56,900 --> 00:01:01,866 recaptured town in Ukraine's south. Robotyne was obliterated by Russian occupation and the 15 00:01:03,866 --> 00:01:07,133 Ukrainian counteroffensive. Now the blue and the yellow fly atop what used to be 16 00:01:07,133 --> 00:01:12,133 a school. Ukraine also says soldiers landed in Russian-occupied Crimea. It's a direct challenge 17 00:01:13,966 --> 00:01:17,500 to Russian control and President Vladimir Putin's most prized Ukrainian territory. 18 00:01:17,500 --> 00:01:21,700 Today, in Moscow, Putin praised the legacy of the Yevgeny Prigozhin, 19 00:01:21,700 --> 00:01:24,400 the one-time-Kremlin-soldier-turned-traitor, 20 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,666 who died yesterday in a plane crash the U.S. believes was likely intentional. 21 00:01:28,666 --> 00:01:31,066 VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (through translator): I want to note that these people 22 00:01:31,066 --> 00:01:36,066 made a significant contribution to our common cause of fighting the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine. 23 00:01:38,066 --> 00:01:41,366 NICK SCHIFRIN: But that fighting has caused Ukrainians unimaginable loss. In the western 24 00:01:41,366 --> 00:01:45,900 city of Lviv today, Ukrainians walked through a cemetery that continues to grow. 25 00:01:47,900 --> 00:01:51,433 Ievhenia Demchuk carried her son to his father's grave. Ihor was a combat medic 26 00:01:53,966 --> 00:01:57,366 killed three weeks ago. They moved here to this city from Central Ukraine to be close to him. 27 00:01:58,566 --> 00:02:00,733 IEVHENIA DEMCHUK, Widow (through translator): 28 00:02:00,733 --> 00:02:05,700 We lived for each other. I have no right to leave him here. That's why we raised defenders, 29 00:02:08,100 --> 00:02:11,266 our boys. I now have to take care of him by myself. 30 00:02:13,266 --> 00:02:17,400 Today, he turns 2 years old. Dad was very proud of him. He called him his little independence. 31 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:27,200 NICK SCHIFRIN: The U.S. estimates that Ukrainian fatalities and wounded since 32 00:02:29,933 --> 00:02:34,900 last February is full-scale invasion to be as high as 150,000, not to mention 33 00:02:34,900 --> 00:02:39,900 the millions of Ukrainian civilians who have been displaced, wounded and killed. 34 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,900 For more, we turn to Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. 35 00:02:43,900 --> 00:02:45,833 Ambassador, thank you very much. Welcome back to the "NewsHour." 36 00:02:45,833 --> 00:02:46,666 OKSANA MARKAROVA, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States: Thank you for having me. 37 00:02:48,166 --> 00:02:50,266 NICK SCHIFRIN: Let's start with the counteroffensive. 38 00:02:50,266 --> 00:02:54,433 And some U.S. officials, to me and two other reporters, have been blunt. They have been 39 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,233 concerned about some Ukrainian military strategic decisions. These U.S. officials worried that 40 00:03:02,733 --> 00:03:06,166 Ukraine is putting too many soldiers in the east, rather than the south, too many Western weapons 41 00:03:06,166 --> 00:03:10,966 are going to the east, rather than the south, which is the front of this counteroffensive. 42 00:03:10,966 --> 00:03:13,000 What's your response to those concerns? 43 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:17,733 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, first of all, we have big trust in our military commanders. 44 00:03:17,733 --> 00:03:22,733 I think, since the start of this full-phased war, they have shown that they are very capable, 45 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,133 they know what they're doing. We have been able to liberate 46 00:03:28,133 --> 00:03:33,133 more than 50 percent of what Russia has taken since February 24. And, frankly, 47 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:38,500 I have never heard in the conversations with the officials any criticism. 48 00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:42,600 We all understood from the very beginning that it's going to be very difficult summer 49 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:47,600 campaign. We knew that the enemy is well-prepared. We also know that enemy, 50 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:53,100 Russians, do not -- have disregard for any human life. You have seen 51 00:03:54,733 --> 00:03:56,766 what they have done with Robotyne, what they have done with Marinka. 52 00:03:56,766 --> 00:03:58,900 They simply destroy everything within... 53 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:01,600 NICK SCHIFRIN: These are towns that Ukraine has now moved into as part of the counteroffensive. 54 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,700 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Yes. Yes. 55 00:04:03,700 --> 00:04:07,400 But when our defenders are liberating them, they're trying to be very careful, 56 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,400 because they are liberating our people. So we knew it's going to be difficult. We knew 57 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:17,400 it's going to take all we have, and it still will require many more capabilities and more weapons. 58 00:04:20,266 --> 00:04:25,266 But we didn't lose any sense as the summer campaign started, and we keep moving forward. 59 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:28,600 NICK SCHIFRIN: There are some intelligence estimates that fear 60 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:33,166 Ukraine will not reach one of its main goals, Melitopol in the south. 61 00:04:33,166 --> 00:04:38,166 What's your response to that skepticism, that doubt that is inside the U.S. government? 62 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,433 OKSANA MARKAROVA: We have one goal, to liberate all Ukraine. And we will reach that goal. 63 00:04:45,466 --> 00:04:49,733 Now, how much time, weapons, energy it will take, that's -- of course, nobody knows that. 64 00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:58,500 But I have been recently in Kyiv, spoke with all our commanders. They know it's difficult, 65 00:05:02,133 --> 00:05:07,133 but they also are very optimistic. And now, with all the new packages that we hear from 66 00:05:09,166 --> 00:05:13,400 the U.S. and other allies, hopefully, with more longer distance, we are very eager to train. 67 00:05:15,333 --> 00:05:17,400 NICK SCHIFRIN: Long-distance weapons. 68 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,033 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Yes, we're very eager to train on all the new capabilities and F-16s. 69 00:05:22,900 --> 00:05:25,700 All of that will help us to liberate Ukraine faster. 70 00:05:25,700 --> 00:05:29,200 NICK SCHIFRIN: The U.S. announced today that Ukrainian pilots will 71 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:34,000 be training in the U.S. for F-16s. Yet the U.S. still does not send some of 72 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,100 the weapons that Ukraine is asking for, some long-range weapons known ATACMS. 73 00:05:38,100 --> 00:05:43,100 Does Ukraine have a plan if it doesn't or if it can't reseize all the territory you hope for? 74 00:05:45,033 --> 00:05:49,733 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, we have, again, one strategic goal, to liberate all Ukraine. 75 00:05:51,733 --> 00:05:54,766 We have our peace formula plan, which President Zelenskyy is very active, 76 00:05:54,766 --> 00:05:59,766 and not only discussing with the leaders, but also we have a number of subgroups on the 10 steps, 77 00:06:01,766 --> 00:06:05,900 which have been discussed right now. And, again, we have focused on the goal. And 78 00:06:07,866 --> 00:06:12,600 we're positive that, if we are all united, and if we do it together, we can reach it. 79 00:06:14,066 --> 00:06:16,433 And, actually, we have to reach it, not for the sake of Ukraine, 80 00:06:16,433 --> 00:06:19,033 but for the sake of all of us who believe in the same principles. 81 00:06:19,033 --> 00:06:22,300 NICK SCHIFRIN: The Biden administration uses the term as long as it takes. 82 00:06:22,300 --> 00:06:27,300 But on that united aspect of this, there are some doubters within the Republicans who are just now, 83 00:06:29,633 --> 00:06:34,633 as of last night, debating in the Republican primary. And let me show you one of the quotes 84 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:40,500 from Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman who's running for president: "We are protecting 85 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:46,333 against an invasion across somebody else's border in Ukraine, when we should use those same military 86 00:06:48,300 --> 00:06:52,400 resources to prevent the invasion of our own Southern border here in the United States." 87 00:06:54,266 --> 00:06:57,633 Are you fearful that someone like him or someone who feels that way 88 00:06:57,633 --> 00:07:01,600 could become president of the U.S. and reduce support to Ukraine? 89 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:06,600 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well it's an internal matter of the U.S. who will become the president. And, 90 00:07:08,533 --> 00:07:11,200 of course, as a democracy, Ukraine welcomes the democratic process. And 91 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,133 it's up to the American people who American people will elect. 92 00:07:14,133 --> 00:07:19,133 What I will say is, I was great -- I was glad to hear yesterday when 93 00:07:21,166 --> 00:07:24,600 I was watching the debate that almost everyone else understood very clearly 94 00:07:26,166 --> 00:07:29,733 that actually supporting Ukraine is in the U.S. national interests. 95 00:07:29,733 --> 00:07:34,733 If we want to deter other autocrats, if we want to restore the order, 96 00:07:36,666 --> 00:07:40,900 which is the basis -- the world order, which is basis for the prosperity for 97 00:07:40,900 --> 00:07:45,900 all -- of all civilized world as we know it after the World War II, if we want to send a 98 00:07:47,833 --> 00:07:52,033 resounding message that democracies not only can defend themselves, but help each other, 99 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,666 and if we want to contain this war, to defeat Russia while it's still in Ukraine, and not to 100 00:08:00,233 --> 00:08:04,500 involve other NATO members -- and Putin has been very clear that his threat is to everyone else. 101 00:08:05,633 --> 00:08:08,633 Then it's the right and effective, actually, 102 00:08:08,633 --> 00:08:12,266 choice to continue supporting Ukraine so we can win faster. 103 00:08:12,266 --> 00:08:16,000 NICK SCHIFRIN: But -- yes, Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., 104 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,433 former Vice President Mike Pence did express their support, the establishment candidates. 105 00:08:20,433 --> 00:08:22,533 But the person who wasn't on the stage last night, 106 00:08:22,533 --> 00:08:27,000 former President Donald Trump, has also questioned whether he would send aid, 107 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,366 as much aid, to Ukraine. And he's by far the front-runner. So do you acknowledge 108 00:08:31,366 --> 00:08:35,866 that there is some erosion of Ukraine's support among at least part of the Republican Party? 109 00:08:35,866 --> 00:08:40,800 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, the majority of Americans, 110 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:45,800 whether Democrats or Republicans, support Ukraine. We have seen it in 111 00:08:47,766 --> 00:08:51,066 all polls. I see it outside when I walk in Washington, D.C., but also when I travel. 112 00:08:53,466 --> 00:08:56,533 I just recently traveled to Ohio. Overwhelming support. People understand -- and American 113 00:08:58,433 --> 00:09:02,700 people are not only very generous people, but also people who are brave and free, 114 00:09:04,533 --> 00:09:08,000 as your anthem says, people who believe that, when injustice is done somewhere, or, 115 00:09:10,033 --> 00:09:14,300 as Martin Luther King said, the threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. 116 00:09:18,333 --> 00:09:22,133 I feel from the American people that they understand it, 117 00:09:22,133 --> 00:09:25,533 and they understand how important it is for all of us to win. 118 00:09:25,533 --> 00:09:30,166 NICK SCHIFRIN: Finally, we saw in the story that preceded us the 119 00:09:30,166 --> 00:09:34,433 reports of Yevgeny Prigozhin's death yesterday and the U.S. assessment. 120 00:09:34,433 --> 00:09:39,100 President Zelenskyy today said Ukraine was not behind Prigozhin's death, 121 00:09:39,100 --> 00:09:44,100 but -- quote -- "Everyone realizes who has a relationship to his death." 122 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:46,433 Who's that? 123 00:09:46,433 --> 00:09:50,233 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, we see war criminals not only attacking Ukraine, 124 00:09:51,633 --> 00:09:54,100 but also killing each other on a regular basis. 125 00:09:54,100 --> 00:09:57,500 And, frankly, everyone in Russia, from President Putin, to all the commanders on the battlefield, 126 00:09:59,500 --> 00:10:03,133 whether they are commanders and official ministers of defense, or thugs like late Prigozhin, 127 00:10:05,700 --> 00:10:10,700 they all are war criminals. And when they decide to kill each other, it's their internal issue. 128 00:10:12,666 --> 00:10:16,266 But I think it's again showing how fragile and -- Russia is and how this aggressive, 129 00:10:23,133 --> 00:10:27,800 senseless war that they have started against Ukraine is actually ruining their regime. 130 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,400 NICK SCHIFRIN: But does Ukraine believe that Vladimir Putin killed Yevgeny Prigozhin? 131 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:36,400 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Well, if -- when our intelligence will have this information, 132 00:10:38,333 --> 00:10:40,766 they will say it. Of course, I will be more than happy to confirm it. 133 00:10:40,766 --> 00:10:45,733 But at this -- at the moment now, I think nobody knows it for sure. But 134 00:10:46,766 --> 00:10:48,466 we cannot exclude it, of course. 135 00:10:48,466 --> 00:10:51,733 NICK SCHIFRIN: Ambassador Oksana Markarova, thank you very much. 136 00:10:51,733 --> 00:10:52,800 OKSANA MARKAROVA: Thank you.