The next is the transcript of an interview with Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, taped Aug. 14, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, and airing on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Aug. 17, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator.
SEN. DAN SULLIVAN: Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks for becoming a member of us in your house state.
SEN. SULLIVAN: Welcome to Alaska. The daddy of the U.S. Air Drive known as Alaska probably the most strategic place on the planet. That is a quote by Billy Mitchell that I take advantage of loads. And now you see why.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely — very strategic. And I need to discuss to you about a variety of issues particular to the state–
SEN. SULLIVAN: Good.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —however that is the main target of the world proper now—
SEN. SULLIVAN: It’s.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —due to who’s coming right here.
SEN. SULLIVAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So out of your perspective, you are a supporter of Ukraine—
SEN. SULLIVAN: I’ve been.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —what does a profitable Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, summit appear like?
SEN. SULLIVAN: Nicely, look, I believe the President and his workforce should be recommended. You already know, they’ve put a variety of effort and vitality in peace, with regard to Ukraine and Russia, like they’re doing all world wide, you already know, they’re they’re making a variety of headway on peace, whether or not it is the Azerbaijan-Armenia points, Iran-Israel, Pakistan-India, they’re placing a variety of vitality into bringing peace to completely different elements of the world, however they put probably the most vitality into this.
So, look, I believe a profitable consequence could be, as you already know, a com- negotiating peace could be very advanced, very tough. Even this type of excessive stage diplomacy has dangers for everyone, together with the president and his workforce. The completely different components of a peace settlement, beginning with the ceasefire, you then would have territorial points, concessions or not, then you’ve gotten safety ensures. However I believe this can be a place-setting train that the administration believes that if they’ll get a ceasefire, you then would do the opposite components that I talked about, the rather more advanced components, with Zelenskyy, with our European and NATO allies. So I believe the President goes to evaluate Putin’s seriousness on a ceasefire. And if he assesses that, that he is severe, and Putin agrees to a ceasefire, then I believe that will be success. You then transfer on to the opposite components for spherical two. So that is actually preliminary, and I might name it, you already know, an train in place-setting for the actual negotiations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, look ahead to the ceasefire, and choose success primarily based off of that. Nicely, the Kremlin has introduced there’s going to be this joint press convention. The White Home says, we’ll see, the president stated possibly, possibly not. Vladimir Putin is being introduced in from the chilly. He is been remoted by the world for a cause. Do you suppose that that is rewarding dangerous conduct, by giving him this highlight on the American soil?
SEN. SULLIVAN: Look, two issues on that. Vladimir Putin is coming to barter with Trump due to the sanctions. I imply, do not take it from me. Take heed to our European allies who’re definitive on that. The rationale Putin is even doing that is due to the specter of severe secondary sanctions. So I believe that that’s essential. And, you already know, when it comes to American soil, look, I truly suppose Alaska is the suitable place. Putin understands one factor, as you already know, Margaret, energy and energy. And my state exudes energy and energy with an enormous navy right here. By the best way, we’re having a large navy train occurring proper now. I hope Vladimir Putin sees a variety of that navy energy within the subsequent couple of days. Unleashing American vitality, which the President is doing. That is the weapon that Putin fears most likely greater than something, once we can compete with them.
After which that is additionally, you already know, a spot that demonstrates an enormous factor of American energy and energy, which is our allies. We now have allies doing navy workouts up right here as we communicate, the president has been doing an ideal job with our European allies. Gotten NATO to get to five%, coordinating with all of them week. So I believe these are actually essential. After which lastly, you already know, as an Alaskan. I believe it is essential, from the angle of reminding the Russians that we’re fairly good negotiators, together with the president of the USA. You already know, final time we had an enormous cope with Russia in America, about my state, we acquired this nice state for 2 cents an acre, $7.2 million, most likely the deal of the century. And I believe the Russians- I believe the Russians most likely must do not forget that too.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, precisely. Do not you suppose for Vladimir Putin, who, you already know, allegedly desires to reconstitute the Russian Empire, that possibly has a bit of little bit of a unique that means for him, arriving right here?
SEN. SULLIVAN: Nicely, look, I believe he has no- I imply, who is aware of what they consider Alaska, however I do know what Alaskans take into consideration Russia. And you already know, we’re a robust state, like I stated. We now have huge energy proper right here. And so once more, I believe for all these causes, that is going to be a extremely essential summit.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So- he’s an indicted struggle legal, for a really particular crime of kidnapping Ukrainian youngsters. He is bombed hospitals in Syria. He is massacred folks, ordered them a minimum of, he’s- he is murdered lots of his personal folks. He is used chemical weapons on British soil. That is why he is below this type of strain and U.S. sanctions. Actually, are you happy that he is this near house?
SEN. SULLIVAN: Look, like I stated, I imply the- the half about—
MARGARET BRENNAN: You do not suppose it normalizes that, that it forgives that, that it brings him again into the fold by giving him that picture op that makes him look so highly effective?
SEN. SULLIVAN: You already know, peace is tough, proper? We have had excessive stage discussions with Reagan in Gorbachev, with Stalin, with Mao Zedong. I imply, that is what diplomacy is about, if you attempt to finish wars. And it’s- the best way you finish wars is, you talk about them with the leaders of those international locations. Look, I am no fan of Vladimir Putin. I do not belief something he says. The secret’s, after I suppose what the president has carried out if you’re coping with a dictator, is present up with energy, and that is what the president’s carried out. Putin is coming to the negotiating tables as a result of he is threatened by these sanctions. The president is rebuilding our navy, rebuilding our vitality sector, which is crucial, crucial to my state, and really importantly, as I already talked about, coordinating actually carefully with one of many biggest strengths now we have, and that is our allies. We’re an ally wealthy nation. Putin is ally poor, and that is an enormous energy of ours.
So all of this stuff, I believe, you concentrate on the energy, get Putin to a ceasefire, and transfer ahead with Ukraine, Zelenskyy, our European allies, when it comes to the extra sophisticated components of a peace negotiation. Nevertheless it begins with this. Begins with a ceasefire. And look, if President Trump assesses Putin will not be being sincere, you’ve got seen, you already know, a variety of frustration from the president just lately saying, hey, I’ve these good discussions with Putin, then he is out bombing, you already know, hospitals and nursing houses. If he assesses that he is not severe, then, because the president stated, there will be extreme penalties. And I believe that is the type of strain we have to carry on to attempt to get to what all people desires, which is an finish of this struggle.
END PART ONE RUSH TRANSCRIPT
