President Trump then raised former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, saying that she was "bad news" and "the people she was dealing with in the Ukraine were bad news."[1] President Zelensky did not express any hesitancy in discussing the ambassador. Contrary to Democrats' assertion that he felt obligated to agree with President Trump's assessment, President Zelensky stated his independent negative assessment of Ambassador Yovanovitch:
Her attitude toward me was far from the best as she admired the previous President and she was on his side. She would not accept me as a new President well enough.[2]
President Trump also raised in passing—using the transition phrase "the other thing"— the topic of Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, referring to his position on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, known for its corruption.[3] President Trump said "a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the Attorney General would be great."[4] President Zelensky did not reply to President Trump's reference to the Bidens, and the two did not discuss the topic substantively.
The call concluded with President Zelensky raising energy cooperation between Ukraine and the United States and with President Trump reiterating his invitation for President Zelensky to visit the White House.[5]
Although some later expressed concern about the call, the call summary—the best evidence of the conversation—shows no indication of conflict, intimidation, or pressure. President Trump never conditioned a White House meeting on any action by President Zelensky. President Trump never mentioned U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. President Zelensky never verbalized any disagreement, hostility, or concern about any facet of the U.S.-Ukrainian relationship.
2. President Zelensky has publicly and repeatedly said he felt no pressure to investigate President Trump's political rival.
Since President Trump declassified and publicly released the content of his July 25 phone conversation with President Zelensky, President Zelensky and other senior Ukrainian officials have publicly and repeatedly asserted that President Zelensky felt no pressure to investigate President Trump's political rival. President Zelensky has variously asserted, "nobody pushed . . . me," "I was never pressured," and there was no "blackmail."
6
