The next is the transcript of an interview with Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, that aired on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” on March 2, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We cross now to Senator Mark Kelly in Tucson, Arizona. Just right morning to you, Senator.
SEN. KELLY: Just right morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You had been one of the most lawmakers who met with President Zelensky previous to that Oval Administrative center meltdown. Senator Lindsey Graham later informed journalists he had warned Zelensky, “do not take the bait.” Do you suppose Zelensky took the bait? Is that how you know what came about?
SEN. MARK KELLY: He used to be cornered and he used to be bullied within the Oval Administrative center. And Margaret, that simply makes us glance susceptible. You recognize, I believe Donald Trump used to be seeking to glance difficult. JD Vance used to be seeking to glance difficult. The one winner in that alternate is Putin- who is a legal, who is killing, you recognize, masses of 1000’s of Ukrainians. So, it used to be a tragic day for our nation. It used to be a dumpster fireplace of international relations. It must now not had been executed that roughly negotiation must now not be executed in public, in entrance of cameras. After we had our assembly previous within the day with Zelensky. He- he, you recognize, he has this like ordinary gratitude. He used to be very grateful, and the Chairman of the Armed Products and services Committee kicked the cameras out of the room ahead of we began to speak. That is the method this must be treated, now not what- now not what Donald Trump did.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, the Treasury Secretary, who used to be simply with us, stated, you’ll be able to’t get an financial deal with no peace deal first. So it sort of feels the dynamic is converting on the subject of what the Trump management is hanging ahead right here. What used to be your working out of what Volodymyr Zelensky’s issues had been?
SEN. KELLY: Neatly, I imply, his fear is that he does not have a safety ensure, and he is being requested to surrender minerals- that this can be a trade deal. Margaret, we are about to rejoice our 250th birthday as a rustic, and I did not suppose we had been simply in it for- for the cash. I imply, we’re a rustic of values and ideas. We stand with our allies. He wishes safety promises. Yeah, I perceive this idea of financial deal and a ceasefire, however the financial deal comes after the ceasefire. None of that is sensible. They wish to get in a room- together with with the Russians. I imply, have the Russians given any indication that they would like peace? Our Treasury Secretary puzzled whether or not Zelensky needs peace. In fact he does. He has his inhabitants being murdered, raped- youngsters are abducted. He needs out of this example, however he- he’s having a difficult time, clearly, negotiating this in public, through the way in which. I imply, his English isn’t the most productive, so that is laborious for him. To nook him within the Oval Administrative center on that roughly level used to be incorrect and it makes us glance weaker as a nation- and it makes us much less secure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You may have been to Ukraine quite a few instances. Our final visitor, Mike Turner, has been to Ukraine quite a few instances as smartly. Neither the president nor the Vice President have in any respect. JD Vance, the Vice President, stated to Zelensky, the ones are propaganda excursions. Is that what you probably did? Did- did you cross on propaganda excursions?
SEN. KELLY: No, I imply, I went into Patriot batteries and- you recognize, talked to the troops that each and every night time are protecting themselves from incoming ballistic missiles and cruise missiles seeking to stay their inhabitants alive. I met with squaddies, you recognize, a few of which might be, you recognize, amputees at this level, who just- and squaddies that simply got here from the entrance traces to speak to me in individual about what the location at the flooring is. I met with pilots there who had been about to get their F-16s and we talked in particular about, you recognize, how are you able to use this aircraft in battle?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
SEN. KELLY: I believe JD Vance, the Vice President, with all due admire. It feels like he is looking at movies on the web. And to mention to Zelensky, you might be now not being grateful sufficient, I mean- Zelensky, thank you the American other folks the entire time-
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Yeah–
SEN. KELLY: — And I were given to mention, Margaret, if- if we will be able to finish this, and I need this to finish up to anyone, however it has to finish in some way that the Russians are going to admire. And what used to be within the Oval Administrative center the day gone by used to be an illustration of weak spot. And I may inform you, Putin does now not admire weak spot.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about america border, the selection of migrants crossing the southern border illegally in President Trump’s first complete time period and primary complete month in place of business, plunged to a degree we’ve not observed in 25 years. That is consistent with knowledge reviewed through CBS. This turns out like that is excellent to your state. Do those numbers end up President Trump’s principle is correct?
SEN. KELLY: Neatly, I believe the numbers being down, that is a excellent factor. What we want longer term is a negotiation with the Republicans on lengthy status border coverage. What the management is doing- particularly with ICE raids in colleges, with flying- repatriating individuals who regularly are not handiest criminals in army airplanes for intimidation, speaking about housing other folks on Guantanamo. That is for intimidation. I’m- it is excellent the numbers are down. That is a favorable thing-
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
SEN. KELLY: We want- we want a border safety settlement. We want regulation. We additionally want immigration reform. Discuss my state for a 2d. We have now were given numerous Dreamers. They deserve a pathway to citizenship. We want some- we want a plan for farm staff as smartly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary of Protection Hegseth is sending some other 3,000 troops to the border, together with an aviation battalion and Stryker automobile, CBS has showed. Now, those squaddies are not allowed to intercept migrants. Do you know the challenge, the intent? You have got oversight over armed products and services, so I ponder how you are feeling about this.
SEN. KELLY: Neatly, I do not be ok with it. The best way this must be treated is- if shall we paintings in combination inside the USA Senate, Democrats and Republicans, get the Border Patrol more cash, rent extra Border Patrol brokers, give them extra assets to do the task they are meant to do. Whilst you do it with troops, that is affecting their readiness. This is not what they are educated to do. Then they do not get to coach to do- that Stryker battalion does not get to coach to do the task that they need- might wish to do at some point. I do not need to see us in a struggle all over the world any place. However what prevents this is for our allies to comprehend that they are now not going to win in a struggle and after they see us doing such things as this, police movements with the army, that is also appearing the remainder of the arena that our army is much less succesful and we’re weaker. And that is affecting everyone’s protection.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Finally, since you take a seat at the Intelligence Committee, I need to ask you about one thing President Zelensky stated. He stated in Munich, Ukraine has intel the Russians are sending troops to Belarus to make use of it as a release pad militarily into, most likely now not simply Ukraine, however different Eu nations. Are you all in favour of that?
SEN. KELLY: Neatly, I’m very all in favour of what Putin will do subsequent, if he- if he comes out of this and thinks he were given a excellent deal and this used to be price his effort and time and lack of existence. He does not care about Russian squaddies. He clearly does not care in regards to the Ukrainians. Yeah, that might be very relating to for me. I used to be within the Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, previous this 12 months. They’re very involved that might be a staging flooring for them to assault the Baltics.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. That is why we are looking at it so sparsely. Senator Kelly, I respect your perception.
