Ambassador Volker, the chief interlocutor with the Ukrainian government, testified that he never informed the Ukrainians about the delay.[1] The Ukrainian government only raised the issue with Ambassador Volker after reading about the delay in Politico in late August.[2] Explaining why the delay was not "significant, Ambassador Volker testified:
Q. Looking back on it now, is [the delayed security assistance] something, in the grand scheme of things, that's very significant? I mean, is this worthy of investigating, or is this just another chapter in the rough and tumble world of diplomacy and foreign assistance?
A. In my view, this hold on security assistance was not significant. I don't believe – in fact, I am quite sure that at least I, Secretary Pompeo, the official representatives of the U.S., never communicated to Ukrainians that it is being held for a reason. We never had a reason. And I tried to avoid talking to Ukrainians about it for as long as I could until it came out in Politico a month later because I was confident we were going to get it fixed internally.[3]
During his public testimony, Ambassador Volker confirmed that he did not have any communication with the Ukrainian government about the pause on U.S. security assistance until they raised the topic with him.[4] Morrison likewise testified that he avoided discussing the pause on security assistance with the Ukrainian government.[5]
Ambassador Taylor similarly testified that the Ukrainian government was not aware of the pause on U.S. security assistance until late August 2019. In an exchange with Rep. Ratcliffe, he explained:
Q. So, based on your knowledge, nobody in the Ukrainian government became aware of a hold on military aid until 2 days later, on August 29th.
A. That's my understanding.
Q. That's your understanding. And that would have been well over a month after the July 25th call between President Trump and President Zelensky.
A. Correct.
Q. So you're not a lawyer, are you, Ambassador Taylor?
- ↑ Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 80.
- ↑ Id. at 80-81; Text message from Andrey Yermak to Kurt Volker, (Aug. 29, 2019, 03:06:14 AM), [KV00000020]; see Caitlin Emma & Connor O'Brien, Trump holds up Ukraine military aid meant to confront Russia, Politico, Aug. 28, 2019.
- ↑ Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 80.
- ↑ Impeachment Inquiry: Ambassador Kurt Volker and Mr. Timothy Morrison, supra note 8.
- ↑ Id.
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