Transcript: Rep. Mike Turner on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 18, 2026

The following is an interview with Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, who appeared on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan on October 18, 2026. Cramer discussed his recent trip to Ukraine, where he shared his views on the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Cramer stated that he believes yielding to a bully like Vladimir Putin will only lead to more demands in the future. He emphasized the importance of not approaching negotiations with dictators like Putin in the same manner as one would in a business setting. Instead, he argued that negotiations should focus on protecting humanity and addressing the root of the problem.

Cramer revealed that he brought a proposal to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy regarding the use of the U.S. military program Starshield to target Russian-held territories. The proposal suggested that Ukraine would stop attacking Russian energy facilities in exchange for access to Starshield's targeting capabilities. Zelenskyy expressed enthusiasm for the idea, stating that he would stop attacking Russia's energy facilities if he had the necessary targeting capabilities.

The senator also mentioned three demands Zelenskyy put forward: access to Starshield, the capacity to jointly produce Patriot missile interceptors, and support in defending against faster jet-powered drones and missiles. Cramer expressed hope that these requests could be addressed, as Zelenskyy's primary goal is to protect civilians, while Putin continues to target civilian populations and energy infrastructure.