A rush transcript of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" airing on Sunday, August 17, 2025 on ABC News is below. This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors. For previous show transcripts, visit the "This Week" transcript archive.

Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan disputes Secretary of State Marco Rubio's characterization that continuing negotiations with Russian President Putin are a step toward ending the war in Ukraine.

Marco Rubio clarifies that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will decide on territorial issues in peace talks, not Trump, following reports concerning Donbas control.

SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO, FORMER BIDEN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAKE SULLIVAN & SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, SUNDAY ON “THIS WEEK” WITH CO-ANCHOR MARTHA RADDATZ Plus, Martha Raddatz sits down with Former CIA Chief of Central Eurasia Division Robert Dannenberg.

Last week, President Donald Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian exports, citing New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian crude. India is the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China.

Two key figures, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appear to be the front-runners. Trump himself suggested that Vance is the "likely" candidate to succeed him, while also leaving open the possibility of a Vance-Rubio joint ticket.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) has asked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to clarify comments he made on a radio show earlier this week, where he appeared to threaten the domestic non-profit group with a terror designation for alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

“The United States deeply appreciates Pakistan’s engagement on counterterrorism and trade,” the official message added. “We look forward to exploring new areas of economic cooperation, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, and fostering dynamic business partnerships which will promote a prosperous future for Americans and Pakistanis.”