Also on Tuesday, Congress released the\u00a0transcript of the testimony last month of Kurt Volker<\/a>, the ex-US envoy for Ukraine negotiations.<\/p>\n His testimony focused on Mr Giuliani, who he said was amplifying “a negative narrative about Ukraine”.<\/p>\n He also described Mr Giuliani’s approach as a “problem” and said “it was impeding our ability” to conduct formal diplomacy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Multiple sworn statements from government officials appear to have sharpened Gordon Sondland’s memory.<\/p>\n During his 10-hour deposition last month, the US ambassador to the EU repeatedly hedged when questioned about his contacts with Ukrainian officials. Now, he can recall key details about a 1 September meeting during which he told them resumption of US military aid was conditioned on Ukraine publicly announcing an investigation that could be used to damage Joe Biden.<\/p>\n In other words, it was a quid pro quo.<\/p>\n Mr Sondland said he was doing this at the behest of Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who he says was making increasingly “insidious” requests of the Ukrainians. And it was the president himself who instructed Mr Sondland, and everyone else involved, to work with Mr Giuliani on Ukrainian matters.<\/p>\n The president and his defenders have repeatedly dismissed those objecting to his Ukrainian efforts as “never Trumpers” with political or ideological axes to grind.<\/p>\n Mr Sondland does not fit that label. A long-time Republican activist, he was a political appointee who had cast his lot in with the president. That makes this testimonial about-face, which puts him in synch with multiple other congressional witnesses, particularly explosive.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Analysis](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/244F\/production\/_104759290_anthonyzurcher-nc.png\")
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