If r-?iES MBASS AVID A. MGM OF STATE KYIV, DEPARTN BEFORE THE ERMANENTEUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CQMMITTEE 0N INTELLIGENCE. COM EE 0N FDREEN AFFAIRS, AND 0N a. REFORM CONCERNING HE PRESENTED 0N NOVEMBER 15, 2019 I. Introduction My name is Dav' Since AUgust 2017? ?mfg?r?e?ap?itliigg career Foreign Service Officer with the Department OfState. to appear before you, I want to make clear thounseior at the Embassy if} UkraIne, While it *5 an honor determined that I may have Somethin of lat I did not seek this opportunIty to testify today. Youihaue appear and tell you what I know Incl Va ue to these proceedIngs, and It IS therefore my obligation my will go do so truthfully accuratel Wehe Isecmaw P0mpeo.5tat8d Iastweek, hOF?e everyone Who tESti??es America y. en the?l d0, the oversught role WIll have been performed, and I think Wi come to see what took place here.? That is my goal today: to testify truthfully and accurately to enable you to perform that role. And to that end, I have hurriedly put together this statement over the past couple days to describe as best I can my recollection of events that may be relevant to this matter. II. Background have spent my en?re professional life serving my country as a Foreign Service Of?cer. Priorto my current post in Kyiv, Ukraine, I served at the Embassy in Moscow, Russia as Deputy and Internal Unit Chiefin the Political Section, and before that as Senior Energy Of?cer in the Economics Section. In Washington, I on the National Security Council staff as Director for Afghanistan and as Special Assistant to the ?Under Secretary Of State. My prior overseas assignments include New Delhi, India; Kabul, afghanistan; Bogota, Colombia; and Pristina, Kosovo. I am a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, California. and recewed graduate degrees in international affairs from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland) and Princeton University?s Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Political Section covering Ukraine's senior policy and political adviser to tion about the host represent U.S. policies to As the Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, I lead the domestic politics, foreign policy, and conflict diplomacy, and serve as th? the Ambassador. The job of an embassy ,politicai.counselor is to gather Informaon internal politics, foreign relations, and-securitypGIiCiES, report back 'm'vge'lfnh?i?frtnentation. foreign contacts, and advise thezAh-ibassa'rjoron polity develwment 3331illif. 19?? I-gy?f oikWaura-21925., wright-'3? u. allgu -. - nu tune no - nuuiiy lnvOWEtj ,?en arts al' in in this role, lam a ais?f' unterp tlEula . . [addressing issues as the? {ms 'i Ukra'" Sent . . .Y meet . . . . ffiCIaIS been this l?QUIry_ 0 or senior LLS. 0 ave to ??35 with Pr - endent I, I an Administration. For th 5 ?3350? be germ did not fall Under ther issues that may . may of . - my administration, some Of Whg?he jusfice SEC: had a political component, F1 (Jim and I was not the expert, inquiry, including energ?i? as as thE?r' . but I followed those issues Embass?? it is importa i . . alCouf'l5?31mat it I5 Wish to to 0 ?me that ?Uta political - ver - . . I am in an? essi?nal and is to foc: 2:11:16 WILLS palatics. 0n the appointee or an age I - al F10 itics of - contrary; i am agapolitical foreign polic?i' the lot: andscape and the country in better ad - - ical, me - vance US. national int . netterun a all? ?Phase erests iser?ve so that fgervice throug of both padniirotess Under the George W. Bush :der: 2,0,th th: 7:28: proud? served adi?" '85 and worked for their appointees both I'T'll l5 ra ion an political and career. - rto in Service in ?lame Pm ze'enskW?S 'naUgUration "ment as POIItical in August 3 ea intment- From August 201? rafter ntil her removal from Post in May a deep respect for her dedication, closely, Speaking multiple times per with senior Ukrainian counterparts. whom I met at least a dozen times. I arrived in Kviv to take ?53 Ambassador Yovanovitch received 9? a . . dvism 2019, was Ambassador Ch'Ef guilty 3 and developed - we determination, and professionalism. During quaint-3mm together deli. and iaccompanied Ambassador Yovanovitc Pre er meetings I was also the note-taker for senior U.S. visitors Wit 5' ent Poroshenko Our work in Ukraine focused on three pillars _add?355i"8 Peace and security, economic growth and reform, and anti-corruption and rule oflaw. These pillars match the three consistent priorities of the Ukrainian people since 2014 as measured in public opinion polling, namely. an end to the con?ict with Hussia that restores national unity and territorial integrity, economic policies that deliver European standards of growth and opportunity, and effective and impartial rule of law institutions that deliverjustice in-cases of high-level official corruption. Our efforts on this third pillar merit special mention because it was during Ambassador Yovanovitch?s tenure that we achieved the hard-fought passage of a law establishing an independent anti-corruption court to try corruption cases brought by the National Anti-corruption Bureau (NABU), another independent institution established with US. support. These efforts strained Ambassador Yovanovitch?s relationship with President Poroshenko and some of his allies, including Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko, who resisted fully empowering truly'independent anti-corruption institutions that would help ensure that no Ukrainians, however powerful, were above the law. However, the Ambassador and the EmbaSS?i Re?t pushing anti-corruption and the other pillars of our policy toward Ukraine. Beginning in March 2019, the situationgt the Embassy and in Ukraine changed dramatically. Specifically, our diplomatic polity that had be'??'focused on supporting ukrainian democratic reform anG? liani resistance to Russian aggression became overshadowed 'b a political agenda being promoted by Rudy and a cadre of of?cials operating with a direct Channel to 51,: White House- That change began with nachinationsby Mr. Lutsenko and others to mm a Ukrainian contact that Mr. Lutsenko im" with herrefusal to support him un is posititm for pgersonal'g?ain mbassador Yovanovitch, tn the emergence of press reports critical discredit her. in mid-March 2019, ,u a - r' [llt? . . . on?: . ?,omrirwti- Ihl? formor ?Hp - and 'er - 1 mutant of ?to Republics 0i rdine' l5. r, Lut mm L?iniinnri that llit. trnliassy had ordered in i Part 5 tag 5 a" so the {minor head was the main Ukraini in imbussy lint] W055 and 0 EM Iol bacilli .iiretl form PM em :9 so? pver?iurmw' Mr. Lutsenko also claimed that the run-1} Minister of Ecolop FUSE . IV ElOChevs Emur a I it? Clo in i?resnlent son. Mr because mtrail Simkin t0 :gairist former n- 59ft - telWE Ormer . serious problems in the - k0 Said: connection novitch's osti Vice nited States aftor Ambassador ng she Would face Embassy collea . aiSD clan 5; ii eard fr .. r, JinSt Ambassadm YOVanOvitch iom a reporter that Mr. Lutsenko had made additional unsupported containing the names of her Supposed a l? Uding that she had allegedly given him a "do not presecute list? fabrication,? and that Mr. Lutsenko lat 5, an allegation that the State Department called an r?outright US. funds intended for his Office, Fin [er retractgd. Mr. Lutsenko also alleged he never received $4.4 million in he was trying to help Hillary Clinto he alleged that there was a tape of the current head of NABU 5a in Wm th 5 election. Public opinion polls in Ukraine indicated that ?Ovitch, Around this same . was surging in the polls, 33d ZelenskW present for Ambassador Y?vanovitch's thi Sliloiitical allvi r! s. 0. pril 20,lwas landslide victo i th . and ?nal meeting vvith then-candidate Mr. ahead of his . ry mm?e?e?'o? the next day. As in her two prior meetings that I also attended they had an entirely cordial, pleasant conversation and Signaled their mutual desire to work together. On April 26, Ambassador Yovanovitch deriarted for consultations in Washington, DC, where she loarned she would be recalled. i did not know the details of her conversations in Washington until I read her deposition statement, but it was clear at the time that she was being removed early. The barrage of allegations directed at Ambassador Yovanovitch, a career ambassador, which included aggressive reporting against herin the US. media, is unlike anything I have seen in my professional career. lV. inauguration, Rudy Giuliani, and the ?Three Amigos? Following President-elect victory, our attention in the Embassy focused on getting to know the incoming administration and coordinating with Washington on preparations forthe inauguration scheduled for May 20, the same day Ambassador Yovanovitch departed Post permanently. In early May, shortly after Mr. Giuliani cancelled a visit to Ukraine alleging Mr. was "surrounded by enemies of the PresidemL? we learned that Vice President Pence no longer planned to lead the Presidential Delegation to the inauguration. The White House ultimately whittled back an initial proposed list for the of?cial Presidential Delegation to the inFa?UEuration from over a dozen individuals to just five: Secretary Perry as its head, Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker representing the State Department, National Security Council Director Alex Vindman representig? the White House, and temporary acting Charge d?Affaires Joseph Pennington representingthe Embassy). i Ambassador Sondland?s mandate as Ambassador to the European Union did not cover individual mem er I states, let alone non-member countries like Ukraine, he made clear that he had direct and frequent :jcceisin: President Trump and Chief of?Staff Mick Mulvaney, and portrayed himself as the condUit to the Pre5i Mr. Mulvaney for the group. Secretary Perry, Ambassador Sondiand, and Ambassador voiker later sired themselves the ?Three Amigos," and made clear they would take the lead on coordinating our p0 ICY engagement with the Administration. I a private lawyer, was taking a direct role in Ar 0 Lind ?the, Same time, gluliani, . -- . - chair, Ukrainian diillomBCY- I On Apr 2.5: Bets'??t?tvr?l?P?VaS Mfr- Zelenskw friend, campaig ices 0f Ukraine - . ritiv? was an . "?dlcateu . Li I he to me pr'v?tely he ofthB Sec 053' tate . not. and ultimat?'iv heir; rsiullai?j ?re? Of:ce onGtT?orEe Erit: Dita President." I r?pnrtelii?i contacted in "sameme Assi?'a" 5 act in?ue no - noli the fol'owm? months it :1 3333?? "1955333 to 9'95th ailing; dirm fact! at 0 pm!? El?ring a CV agenda that the Three: -, apparent that Mr. Giulia!" Wd in Ui-irai" ?d about Wh - meeting of the 'Em were executing on the ?dire bassador statedalzhwas 5? active in the media with inauguration Daiega?onrecollection 15 . ammit Rudy. Every time RUdy respect to Ukraine. MY everything . is involved he goes and and I took "Utes 20, in th . Passed President as meeting With President sect? reform, Whi in kW 3 list of "people he trusts" from as the tf-lPir: of subsequent meetings . lace 0" - ration took The inaugu secr?ta Zelenskw. During the meating?. ener Whom Zelenskw seek adme on ?tan energy-sector m"taste, from wh' between Secretary Perry and k3? Ukra' [ch Embassi? personnel were excluded by Secretarv F'F'in"s staff. (if; assador Midland, 3E -. ail 0n MW 23' Ambassador walker. mans? no: in the O?iCialcdgaw Perry, and Senator Ron Johnson 31' [who had also attended the inauguration. ?adder? Trump Signed a L?Bationl returned to the United States and briefed President Trump. 0n Mali 29' .isittiie White House at congratmamw fetter to PI'ESident Zelenskw, which included an invitation in - 3" unspen?eo date, at a White HOUSE visit was critical levels both to advance his ambitioifafiilflfo?rtr?g?gikw? :9 new? to in take seriously President Zelenskw'S peace Effort?? a. at home Zelenskw's team immediately began pressing to set a date for the visit. President Zelenskw 31? rem'dem members of his team made-clear they wanted President zeienskw's ?rst overseas trip to be to send a strong signal of Western sUppon, and requested a call with President Trump as 50?? as 35' mm? to the Embassy also believed that a meeting was critical to the Success of President militia-Elgar: at it is important to understand th demonstrate U.S. support at the highest and to encourage Russian President Putin and its reform agenda, and we worked hard to get it arrangecL When President team did ?Gt receive an af?rmative they made plans for President first overseas trip to be to Brussels, in part to attend an American independence Day event that Ambassador Sondland hosted on June 4. Ambassador Sondland hosted a dinner in President honor following the reception, which included President Zelensliw, Jared Kushner, Ulrich Brechbul'ii Federica Mogherini, and comedian Jay Leno, among others. In the week leading up to the event, Ambassador Sondland Secretary Perry, and Secretary Perry?s staff were taking a very active and unconventional role in formulating our priorities for the new Administration and personally reaching out to PresldentZelenskw and his senior team, . V. Ambassador Taylorand an Oval Office Meeting . Ambassador Bill Taylor-arrived in' Kyiv as Charge d'Affaires on June 17. For the next month, a focus of our activities along with the Three Amigos .. was to coordinate a White House Visit, and to that end we were working with the Ukrainians to deliver things no thou ht sident Trump might care about, such as commercial deals b'eriefitting the United States: Aruba dre 1' ior reported that Secretary had to? :hililii'Priolf tohiaarrivaigown, work 6 i .3553. Gib airs? dent at Dun on Ukraine." Ambassador Poiker taldus'th?e ?Pitt ?VE'irears, uid hang on what could be accomplished in the, next three months;- . - f, dentin 5 term 1 co commercial deals, and anti" i persuading the 2.3: met-gr MD: it b?caili? energy'sgctor reforms, . {wit . .r .. . . termSO a notmaidn?ademm ?o-nd?h man?unn- ?duh-0 I 5?2th J'shldor Ta 1 . a that Fireside!? In a Dhgmeeu?t he 3b 27 Ambassador Sondland told In the We ant? a (On his . . "llu' . "re Ga . . her. Giuliani and ghgationfsed to Hagan" the presidents. On 1;;Szador Taylor shared With me at the time} - i Egist ot which Am hat president Zelenskw was not standing he Burismaf?idon investigations that a ng?rstoot?earto President Trump 1 a t0 . all 01? hi?" 5 eafIat this was rafhrritggdia since March. While Ambassador Taylor Com r?ng about in th:eHThree Amigos. he did tell me that on a June 28 'tations with on so a . ?15a; 0 as a Senior at"! Amjgos, it was made clear that some action on Ettng altogethwomd Izt. and the mEating. We became concerned that even . CB eague Du stop ?d I discussed W?th Em VI Th I Fltaming of Security ASS'Stance Jul Embasc. hold On Ukrain self 1? Wh it an C?nference the National Security Council secure video had C?f?ne from Url Elstance CE Page com Budget staff member surprisingly announced the . - Hearth gent meeting. The official said the order an a his beean a hadb . 0 the assista fe or? but; an ConVEVed to OMB by Mr. Mulvaney With no further explanation, COUHtErpat-ts rea he and ag?r?icies to the rationale for the freete, conduct a rewew of the hold Irme at there ad ofthe Ukraine policy community of its Importance. NSC aylor or how l' . . I been not; an in our ukraine policy, but could not determine the cause . Ambassador H: la ge Br and th aware oftestirnonv regarding discussions between Ambassador eThree Amigosgn July 19-20, was not aware of those discussions at the . uly 26 Meetings and Ambassador Sondland's Cail to the President ry phone call to President after his party lection. Contrary to standard procedure, the Embassy and was unaware of what was discussed until the transcript was released eeply disappointed to see that the President raised none of on foreign policy priorities in Ukraine and instead raised theory about which was supposedly 0? July 25 Presid em Tru won a commanding majority in ?EgInme?Ide a congratulate received no readout of the call SEPtember 25. Upon reading the transcript, lwas what i understood to be our inter-agency agreed up the Biden/Burisma investigation and referred to the connected to Ukraine and allegedly played a role in the 2016 eiection. The next day, July 26, 2019, lattended meetings at the Presidential Administration Building in Kyiv with Ambassador Taylor, Ambassador Volker, and Ambassador Sondland and took notes during those meetings. We ?rst had a meeting with Andriy Bohdan, the Chief ofStah? to President The meeting was . Mr Bohdan had already been summoned by President zelenskw to prepare for a subsequent broader brie?Ias do say that president Trumphad expressed Interest during the previous day?s phone call in meeting, but he I onnel decisions related to the Prosecutor General's Office. President ZelenskW 5 pers . met with President and several other senior of?cials. During the thatdu?'?g the 25 Pa?. President Trump had ?three times? raised he Would~'haVIE t0 follow up on those issues when they met ?in person.? I did "or know what those sensitive issues were. I than . The dElegat'on . . to meeting; President Elegy-25;: that sitlve issu i 25 call, "some "Viewriigived a readoutof the my - Not ha I . presi en zelenSIl?W' Ambassador Voiker and Ambassador Taylor quickly left the ting wit than-1pm the fro lines. Ambassador Sondland, who was to fly out that Afterth I ?IBUIldln? ?nth Yermak, a top aide to President Zelenskw. mid ting . - amine amee Prestdentlalgy?d ?hin?ito have I . 5 on; -, after"? v. . fit"if-1: . unit - ad 291321;? I Was tor . m? on!? Pioi with til??I ith Mnye ?hair . ed to . he As I wasi?'r'ms 1' on my!? at me in, but she told me that that 4 Semis'and and Mr. temg; "a . behr'rd Ambassador? arr-23W 5? ?ts? that the "tale Ambassador Wand Md . net: I 315?s?? alOn mg Ono-on - - EmbaS?' 5 alt . ended' 3 Wm" a In 'one W'th n0te~taker the meetzrg as the MI MF- Yen" eating ember 0f Amba I AmbassadorSonc-?landa until the dff' Esador Sondland's staff and a member of the 5 an; an {?lmpanhd Amb d. the M0 samba-?V Vehicle. Amb 3553,30,. 50nd and out of the eating id be ha assalder Sandi - Presidentiatndminrsb'at? dor Sondiand? hassado" 50ndland said the Want? to brief me on his meeting go to lunch. Hold Are-53553 thEl' ?55995 a at I 5'10?? loin. The two staffers with Mr. Yermal: or dascms 0 joined her Izmch as well. frets-1' sf went to a nearby r55 Esteem ?o?er and the Staffer-wine Ami-asset?s: Sons?ano seiected a bottle abusineSS. soc}: as marge-tine strategies for his hotel - id that - . as: tench Ambassador Sandanifmob? :hwas 80mg to call PreSIdent Trump to give him an i endiand placed a 63?1?" for the one, and i heard him announce himself several ?Gordan Sondland mums rESIdEnt_ It appeared that he was being en noticed Ambassador Sondland?s muf?n outdoor terrace. I sat directly BUGS-5 from sato?ta our Sides. at he shar th ed among the four of us, and we discussed topics 9' an- Ch'b Amb?gga :svme ,aicn - she iine of . transieved severe? {avers cf switd'lboal'ds I th . damage?! {?75325 and ?memo? that he had been "?tted to President Trump. While Ambassador swig; M?s $395.5 was 9" Speakemm'lwmd he?" the President?s voice through the earpiece of the ?Ghee The Presggeeys woe was Very mud and recognizable and Ambassador Sondiand held the phone away or a period of time, presentahhr because of the loud Volume. and explain that he was calling from Kyiv. i heard bassador Sondland replied, yes, he I then heard President Trump i hea rd Ambassador So ndiand greet the Pr en was in Ukraine. Am ?he's gonna do it,? adding that President Trump then clarify that Ambassador. Sondland was in Ukraine, and went on to state that President ?loves your ass.? ask, ?So, he?sgonna do the investigation? Ambassador Sondiand replied that i do ?anything you ask-him to.? President wii that these statements were eaking with the President have a dear recollectio Ambassador Sondland was so the table also knew that Sondland's efforts, on behalf of the President, to assist a The conversation then shifted to Aruba'ssad-or andl could Only hear Ambassador Sondlan'd's side of that part of the rapper who was faded in Sweden, 1. conversation- AmbassadorSondland told the Plasident that the rapper was ?kind of there, and . should have pled guilty.? He recommended that the Prestdent ?wait until after the sentencing or it anti m'ak: irtta worse,? adding that the President Should ?let him'get sentenced 9'3? the lads?? card? ?we mm: when he Comes home.? Ambassador Sandlanr l?th'e?r told the President that Sweden should ave him on Your sword," but *yOulcan t9" WbKardashiahs You tried After ?13 ended, Ambassadorso was In a bag?i?h :sk Ambassador Sondland Stated Was often the Case early the morning I then took theloigg?wlar I asked Ambassador Sondland for his I 4 - on Ukraine. . Candid 'mp'ess'c'??fthe Presidents VIEWS bout ukrainB-" Ambassador Ambassador'sondla'nd if. it was true ?thafitth?lpr-ESidE-nt did not ?give a 5-4 a that the . .331": stated that lh reside :17- a War Wit rest like the - aid 3 .- a r" t" .ne_n I asked Why not. and en Inire A "avail? a 5-4 anon! Likrlanoted that there was "blg stuff" going on in ,1 bout "big stuff lied that he meant "big benefits the ?pan return] at SD?dl-Qnd rep shir'lg- The conversatl?n then mDVe-d On US Embassy 3130? rig r. Giuliani was pu in Chief of Mission and others at the ?to - De ut?r 26 ?in mm am; we 7:11 Ambassador Sondland. I also emailed an Was la 715341 my conversation was discussed on the call to the 5t with thE? U.5- rapper tha '3 355 bass?? ahead ed vacation that ended on August 6. After rite . Plate .77de Son ourcall- I also repeatedly referred to the call rest in Ukrain ngtlauy Elevmand in nit-r abour th: cc?mergg?tirsns where the issue of the Presi 0 ant. Eetings an dent's - d?s statement of the 9r25 d . importa res; ?attic? . bassador Sondlan . em 5 nce as nt Trient zelensk?ar fut?: a?qtlm:h::tood that in order to secure a meeting bF-?tWeen mp i . we to ex iain uk tErms tho: Womd have to hard to ?nd a compeliing- ill. Otter th Lifting "7 i Assistance Ways that ensu'ng We ?Old an Secur a by PrEsidem ze'enppeal to the President Zelensk I signal of lack of 5 . resiediill?nu?d to try to Identify WBVS 15? frame the importance 0f Ukraine move forward on the schedul'?g of? White House 7777 . he met wi Presidem Trump Was still not moving forward With a mating With ?9pc?: for Ukrai Pre dent Putin at the 620 Summit in Osaka, Japan, sending a further Ukrainian Secreta Secreta Ukraine; ndependence Day is Defense Pompom had Co . Angus: 24 and presented a good opportunity to Show support for Mattis attend on ered attending {National Security Advisor Bolton attended in 2013 and . ,e in 201?), bur in the and nobody senior to Ambassador Volker attended. Shortly thErea . fter, 0? AUEUSI Ambassador Bolton visited Ukraine and brought welcome news that Ambassador I . . . dent Zelenskw on September 1 in Warsaw. I took notes in . olton 5 meeting With Pnesrdent Zelenskw and Chief of Staff Mr. Bohdan. Ambassador Bolton told 3' "35359 would be "cruciaito cementln their 9 In Warsaw 3 Between maetings that day, lheard Ambassador Bolton express to Ambassador Taylor and National Security Council Senior Director Tim Morrison his frustration about Mr. Giuliani's influence with the President. making clearthere was nothing he could do about it. He recommended that new Prosecutor General Ruslan Ryaboshapka, who would replace Mr. Lutsenko, open a channel with Attorney General Barr in place of Mr. Yermak's channel with Mr. Giuliani. He also expressed frustration about Ambassador Sondland's expansive . . . 'n that he should ask his staff to con?rm that the mandate of the U.S. interpretation olhls mandate, 3 in European Union was limited to the European Union and had no authority with the Ambassador [9 e" [etiolone non-members like Ukraine. Ambassador Bolton further Indicated the hold indiwdual members? Lid'notrb?' ??ed prior to the Warsaw meeting. where it would hang on whether on security law hie President Trump. President - . 7 - ?7 .7 ?fths. Warsaw trip: 50 the ?Old remained in place with no clear 7 'wa's entailed, Ambassador Taylor also told methatAmbassador Bolton ?7 ta-gefiif lifted; ?it-jinn a ?rst-personable to Secretary Pompeo articulating the u- gs?flur Taylor 5 direction, I drafted and transit-litter: 1hr. kralnfz? 5 ??Pmiance and the importance of the sent-nit,? ice- 9? assist?? Emmln ily importance of the secur te Aligust 29, which further attemo lsecunt?i' I I cal to Presrdent?l?rump in foreign policy and ?atl?nal assistance to US. nations were still tryin?l at was that the security assistance hold Wag ?ka tiSfact'on that the Ukrainians had not yet agreed to the During this time, we ever i I security terms. By this FOIHL how 855 553 th . nt either to expr Increase prEsSure on them to do so. i have since read in rnBEtmg Warsaw in which Ambassador Sondland told Mr, intended by the Preside or Burisma/Biden investigations or as a unt a - 35m securitv 355 5tance freeze would not be lifted until vestigation- I have also read Ambassador Taylor?s testimony Ambassador Taylor?s testimon?r? an n] that-t Yermak (according to Mr. Marni-O Biden in . Zelenskw committe" the Bur'smaf I Biween Ambassador Taylor and Ambassador Sondland which mm? the ?Change and phone cal was on such an announcement and that - "eve . Ambassador Sondland admitted that ?in a public box.? President Trump wanted President ZelenS it has atSenatar Johnson and Senator Chris Murphy?s meeting with President Zeiensk OPnSEP'tempber-ZJ trogaleikw asked about the Security assistance. Although both Senators stressed beams: on for Ukraine, Senator JOhnson cautioned President that PreSident Trump has a neggative view EFUkraine and that President would have a difficult time overcoming it. Senator Johnson further explained that he was "shocked" by President Trump?s negative reaction during and um meet Presi ent Oval Of?ce meeting on May 23, when he and the Three Amigos proposed that Presudent Tr and show support for Ukraine. was not aware until i read Ambassador Taylor?s testimony ofthe various exchanges on September 7-8 about President Trump apparently insisting that President personally go to a microphone and say he was opening investigations of the Bidens and 2016 election interference, or Mr. Yermak?s message to Ambassador Sondland that president was prepared to make a statement on CNN. However, Ambassador Taylor did tell me on September 8 ?now they?re insisting commit to the investigation in an interview with 1 was surprised the requirement was so specific and concrete. While we had advised our Ukrainian counterparts to voice a commitment to following the rule of law and generally to investigating credible corruption allegations, this was a demand that President personally commit to a speci?c investigation of President Trump?s political rival on a cable news channel. On September 11, the hold on security assistance was lifted, though it remained unclear why it was imposed in the first place. Although we knew the hold was lifted, we were still concerned that President may have committed to give the interview at the annual Conference in Kyiv on September 12-14 where Fareed Zakaria was one of the moderators. On September 13, an Embassy colleague received a phone call from a colleague at the US. Embassy to the European Union (under Ambassador Sondland) and texted me regarding the call, ?Sondland said the interview is supposed to be today or Monday [Sept 16] and they plan to announce that a certain investigation that was ?on hold' will progress.? The text alsa explained that our European Union Embassy colleague did not know ifthis was decided or if Ambassador Sondland was advocating for it. Also on September 13, following a meeting with President in his private office in which i to notes, Ambassador Taylor and ran into Mr. Yermak on the way out. When Ambassador Taylor again stress?: the importance of staying out of US. politics and said he hoped no interview was planned, Mr. Yermak shrugged in resignation and did not answer, as if to indicate they had no choice. in short, everyone thought there was going to be an interview, and that the Ukrainians believed they had to do it. The interview ultimately did not occur. qu'l_ I.I JIM-lad 01:: 3s margins of the: S?hte as?? lSEfll have no 1' I fl.? I Mr. MorrisOn to brief ill '31 an(1 - ted on input he sent to . As the Currant i r?auu?ltt?hf?ting scheduled with President in New mien?- Df?i mpeath hIi? at a - i he July 25 call was released the same day. ?at" mba?ad ?flheEar-errant cor filler apiemeer 25 meemg' being l?ld out for the A ?Sine "t Ar" 3.5 wed press FED-Sifts and the first time that certain 5e [E'rlcian paul?rith thhaasadnrogressecl, have to doc" my expe rience in Ukraine. my Ukraine_ At nl?r of?c ale elf leg 8359 i . the relevant facts were therefore als and I beliEZErdsgi?l read press reports expressing for the all! the last the President's knowledge in their dealings "ta . raga?? acting :?tIack of ?mphand evidence in the investigation of?cials Were usin th the Cities?? ?it .l?onaitlggethearmgs was ?hearsay." I came to realize I had firstave Taylor that the incident Lm?nal ?king?sher the Prss'denttg?d?w Lfkrainian President to announce the testimony earlier this We Rad . tl'Im'aver to inciIucli?that I made the observation to Ambassador . all a U:I::jthat ?ingignificance' which is what he reported in his grea and suggesting that the hand knowledge regardm V?'viue events potentially bore 0 Cert i would like to take a I lit. Conclusion Western Ultralnians 3 Brian Got to tUI'n ha week marks six years since throngs of pro. the Revolution of oigni ?le Batherw the Ukraine'- - i re to launch what became known as West, they expanded Dire:- tie the Ute . '1 fly?, 5 independence Squa . . Russia and away from the . 353:1 in 0 position to a turn toward . oversaw and Ultimate] led 0 his rele?the engine corrupt, repressive system that the President . r0 liraine to Russia. Those events were followed by Russia?s at, to date he of ukraine's eastern Donbas region, masterminding an shattered Etonomy adhelredstc fie aimgsa? 14 000 lives. over the past five years, they have rebuilt a 0 a - - th toward our way Of life. as and moved economically and socraily closer to West Earli'e newcomer as democratic values, re orm priorities, and strat this year, large majorities of Ukrainians again chose a fresh start by voting for a political presicl How we respond to this historic opportunity will set the trajectory of our relatioIrIiIsIthiniI-igItI: $32: our position on core principles central to our vital national interests for yearsIIto Carling support for Ukraine mbi uous reaf?rmation that ourlong-standing, bipartisan poI icy ?d it rhis meeting a clear an una 8 full back itatthe highest levels. Vice PreSident Pence sai . I nd remains unChangfd 83d U.S.-Ukraine relationship has never been stronger. Ukrainians a with President 22 ens i that. their new government earnestly want to believ - as irations, i b'partisan American supportthat has sustained their Euro Atlantic 'shteri Ukrainians cheri time oishifting . . . tic politics or elections. At a . a role in domes . . I unbowed, nd they recoil at the thou?ht or [3:2th w0rid, we have no better friend than Ukraine a scrappy a . - etitors rid co . allegiances a ritarianism and . .. eople who are standing up against Russran autIho I security that we stand and above all Fl point in Ukraine, and it is critical to our nationa I dEtE'mme .. ow at an in?ecti aggreSSIOl?IlgII . v.itl' . 'i "3k .lffT?s. r3