Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s interview with The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert

ASK: Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest is a diplomat who has worked in government for 40 years. Today she is the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Please welcome Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD: I match your chair.

ASK: Good to see you. Thanks for being there.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Thank you very much.

ASK: It was Friday–Anniversary of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. You were on the Security Council in a security council meeting, If this invasion actually happened. If you look back over the past year, you’ll be surprised at where we are, or how about Ukraine, considering how dangerous the situation looked in those first few weeks?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Now, I have to I’m telling you, that day was surreal. We called an emergency Council meeting to warn the world that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine. And they did it while we were in the CAdvice. And So I think even the Russians that were – She was Presidents Of the Cadvice – SO their ambassador sat in the chair, as we all looked at our phones and heard this happening.

And at the time Russia said this will only be a two–week operation. We’ll finish it. And here we are a year later. And they were so misguided. You were so wrong. Because a year later, Ukraine is still standing and [Applause.] president Biden was there The one–Annual stamp congratulate President Zelenskyj for the steadfastness that Ukrainians have shown and are showingedit the Ukrainians that the world is still united with Ukraine. [Applause.]

ASK: How is it? How is it then or now to be in the room with the Russian ambassador? Do you ever walk over and say “light upwhat are you thinking?” Do You can always shoot straight with these guys? [Laughter.]

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Occasionally we have the opportunity to shoot directly, but things have changed since the invasion of Ukraine. We have to work together. WWe sit at the table together every day, 15 Countries – The five permanent members and 10 elected members – And We have to insert On any number of problems. We are committed to issues in which we actually agree. WWe agreed on sanctions against Haitian gangs. We agreed a year ago to keep the border to Syria open so that humanitarian aid can continue to benefit people in need.

But after the Ukrainian war, Russia really, really disrespectful Ccouncil and all we stand for because they sit and attack as permanent members of the counciledit your neighbor. They brought this unprovoked war upon the Ukrainian people. You commit War crime. TThey commit crimes against humanity. You commit human rights abuses right before our eyes and you are a permanent member of the Council. things have changed –

ASK: That means that they have The objection. THey have veto Perfomance.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: She have veto power. And that is why we are presenting our actions to the General Assembly, where their Right of veto doesn’t work. And we have roundly condemned them. On FridaywWe tabled a resolution – A peace agreement – And 141 countries voted for this resolution.

ASK: Let’s just talk about China for a moment, because they are – It‘S It has been reported that China is considering sending arms and aid to Russia. AAnd Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan said: “Yes, You – that is bad. You can not.”

Why would it be particularly bad for China to do that?, beyond the prolongation of the war?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Well, firstly, it will prolong the war. But secondly, it means that China will join Russia’s actions in Ukraine. China would join in committing human rights abuses against the Ukrainian people, wage a bloody war that has really destroyed infrastructure in Ukraine. This is about supporting the UN Charter. And when China joins Russia, it becomes part of this problem. So We haven’t seen any evidence of this yet have made a decision to supply deadly weapons, but they understand very clearly that by supplying deadly weapons they are supporting Russia It is Attempts to destroy a sovereign country.

ASK: Now, of course, it can get tense in any diplomatic situation as part of your job as ambassador to try to de–escalate. In many ways, that is the goal. Diplomacy is that Ddepartment of Ppeace How – I understand that you have a very interesting form of diplomacy that you use. They try to win people over not only for themselves but also for them Sdeeds.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: [Laughter.] I assume you are talking about gumbo diplomacy.

ASK: I didn’t know exactly what that meant. That’s why we let you – What is goodmbo diplomacy?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: It is – Anyone in the audience from Louisiana? [Applause.]

So, goodmbo Diplomacy is about doing gumbo, what an exceptional dish is, and engaging in conversations with people over a great meal. And I cook it myself. I shared my recipe that I made on the spot with the Washington Post. I have never used the recipe myself. [Laughter.]

ASK: And did you give them the real recipe or just what non-Louisiana people are allowed to eat? have? becout of I went down with a Jon Batiste. I went down to cook with his motherAAnd he said to me afterwards, that’s not her prescription gave you. [Laughter.]

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: People who cook gumbo, we don’t use a recipe. Yyou just cook And So I cook, and me actually tried to reconstruct what I’m doing in this recipe. And I was in Ghana a few months ago and the ambassador there had her chef use the recipe and it was gumbo really good. So now me have to try the recipe. It was better than anything I’ve ever done before. [Applause.]

ASK: How did you – afterwards 40 years of working in diplomacy, I’m sure it can be daunting SSometimes when you see the state of the world. WLet’s just say these are the moments that sustain you through moments of doubt?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: YYou know, it’s seldom that I have doubts because I know what we do matters. But one of the moments I had really brought out why what I do is so important, SA few years ago I met a young Sudanese man, a South Sudanese, on the streets of Arlington, Virginia. AAnd he said, “Hi IInda, you helped me get refugee status to the united states.” And in that moment I realized that something I had done had changed someone’s life.

And So I approach my work every day that I’m doing something that will change someone’s life. I may never meet the person. I can never hear what i did. But I know in my heart that I’m doing something that will change people. And because of that, I get to get up every day and deal with the crap and fight the good fight. [Applause.]

ASK: ambassador, Thanks very much. GNice to see you again. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, all. We’ll be right back.