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Pompeo to Meet With Ukraine’s Zelensky in Kyiv Pompeo to Meet With Ukraine’s Zelensky in Kyiv
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in Kyiv on Friday, the State Department said Monday.WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in Kyiv on Friday, the State Department said Monday.
Mr. Pompeo will be the highest-ranking member of the United States government to meet with the Ukrainian president since Vice President Mike Pence met with him in Warsaw on Sept. 1 and the first cabinet official to meet with him since the formal start of the impeachment inquiry, which centers on President Trump’s interactions with Mr. Zelensky and his government.Mr. Pompeo will be the highest-ranking member of the United States government to meet with the Ukrainian president since Vice President Mike Pence met with him in Warsaw on Sept. 1 and the first cabinet official to meet with him since the formal start of the impeachment inquiry, which centers on President Trump’s interactions with Mr. Zelensky and his government.
Since that inquiry began in late September, Mr. Pompeo has tried to maintain his distance from the Ukraine issue. He has refused to release State Department documents demanded by impeachment investigators in the House and has declined to speak in any detail about his own role in the affair.Since that inquiry began in late September, Mr. Pompeo has tried to maintain his distance from the Ukraine issue. He has refused to release State Department documents demanded by impeachment investigators in the House and has declined to speak in any detail about his own role in the affair.
But on several occasions, he has reiterated some of Mr. Trump’s positions on potential investigations related to Ukraine. And he has refrained from publicly supporting ambassadors and senior diplomats who have testified before Congress and come under attack by Mr. Trump. That has contributed to a sharp drop in morale at the State Department.But on several occasions, he has reiterated some of Mr. Trump’s positions on potential investigations related to Ukraine. And he has refrained from publicly supporting ambassadors and senior diplomats who have testified before Congress and come under attack by Mr. Trump. That has contributed to a sharp drop in morale at the State Department.
Mr. Pompeo intends to “reaffirm U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” on his trip, the State Department said, a reference to the yearslong war that Ukraine is fighting against a Russian-backed insurgency in the east. The State Department said Mr. Pompeo plans to lay a wreath at the monastery of St. Michael’s in Kyiv to “honor those who have fallen in the Donbass,” the region where the war is unfolding.Mr. Pompeo intends to “reaffirm U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” on his trip, the State Department said, a reference to the yearslong war that Ukraine is fighting against a Russian-backed insurgency in the east. The State Department said Mr. Pompeo plans to lay a wreath at the monastery of St. Michael’s in Kyiv to “honor those who have fallen in the Donbass,” the region where the war is unfolding.
Mr. Pompeo also plans to meet with Ukraine’s foreign and defense ministers, as well as with religious, civic and business figures, the State Department said.Mr. Pompeo also plans to meet with Ukraine’s foreign and defense ministers, as well as with religious, civic and business figures, the State Department said.
The Democratic-led House impeached Mr. Trump along a party-line vote for abuse of power and obstruction on Dec. 18. The abuse of power article rests on the fact that Mr. Trump pressed Mr. Zelensky for political favors while the White House withheld from Kyiv $391 million of military aid that had been approved by Pentagon and State Department officials and required by Congress.The Democratic-led House impeached Mr. Trump along a party-line vote for abuse of power and obstruction on Dec. 18. The abuse of power article rests on the fact that Mr. Trump pressed Mr. Zelensky for political favors while the White House withheld from Kyiv $391 million of military aid that had been approved by Pentagon and State Department officials and required by Congress.
Mr. Trump asked Mr. Zelensky in a July 25 telephone call “to do us a favor” by looking into a conspiracy theory about a Democratic National Committee server and Russia-promoted disinformation that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 United States presidential election. Mr. Pompeo was on the call.Mr. Trump asked Mr. Zelensky in a July 25 telephone call “to do us a favor” by looking into a conspiracy theory about a Democratic National Committee server and Russia-promoted disinformation that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 United States presidential election. Mr. Pompeo was on the call.
Mr. Trump also asked Mr. Zelensky to look into unsubstantiated claims that former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., a leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, engaged in corrupt acts related to his son Hunter and a Ukrainian company.Mr. Trump also asked Mr. Zelensky to look into unsubstantiated claims that former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., a leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, engaged in corrupt acts related to his son Hunter and a Ukrainian company.
Mr. Pompeo’s visit comes a month after Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, visited Kyiv seeking to meet with former Ukrainian prosecutors whose allegations of corruption played a role in Mr. Giuliani’s and pro-Trump news organizations’ promotion of claims about Mr. Biden and his son.Mr. Pompeo’s visit comes a month after Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, visited Kyiv seeking to meet with former Ukrainian prosecutors whose allegations of corruption played a role in Mr. Giuliani’s and pro-Trump news organizations’ promotion of claims about Mr. Biden and his son.
In March, after at least two telephone calls with Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Pompeo ordered the recall of the American ambassador to Ukraine, Marie L. Yovanovitch. Mr. Giuliani and associates tied to Ukrainian businesspeople had pushed for the ouster of Ms. Yovanovitch, who was known for promoting anti-corruption efforts in Kyiv.In March, after at least two telephone calls with Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Pompeo ordered the recall of the American ambassador to Ukraine, Marie L. Yovanovitch. Mr. Giuliani and associates tied to Ukrainian businesspeople had pushed for the ouster of Ms. Yovanovitch, who was known for promoting anti-corruption efforts in Kyiv.
Mr. Pompeo picked a veteran diplomat, William B. Taylor Jr., to replace her as head of mission, but Mr. Taylor became concerned over the summer about the withheld aid, writing in a cable dated Aug. 29 that the administration’s action was “folly.” Mr. Taylor later testified to Congress, infuriating Mr. Trump.Mr. Pompeo picked a veteran diplomat, William B. Taylor Jr., to replace her as head of mission, but Mr. Taylor became concerned over the summer about the withheld aid, writing in a cable dated Aug. 29 that the administration’s action was “folly.” Mr. Taylor later testified to Congress, infuriating Mr. Trump.
Mr. Taylor was scheduled to leave his post in January, but a close aide to Mr. Pompeo asked Mr. Taylor to leave before Jan. 2 so the two would not interact in Kyiv, according to news reports. Mr. Taylor was scheduled to leave his post in January, but a close aide to Mr. Pompeo, T. Ulrich Brechbuhl, asked Mr. Taylor to turn over his duties to the deputy chief of mission on Jan. 1, before Mr. Pompeo’s arrival, a person with knowledge of the discussion said. That would allow Mr. Pompeo to avoid interacting with Mr. Taylor, who then chose to leave Ukraine on Jan. 2.
In late August, Mr. Pompeo joined John R. Bolton, the national security adviser, and Mark T. Esper, the defense secretary, to argue to Mr. Trump in an Oval Office meeting that the White House should release the aid, but Mr. Trump ignored their recommendation. Around the same time, Mr. Trump was told about a whistle-blower complaint filed by a C.I.A. officer on the issue, and separately members of Congress were pressing for the aid to be released. On Sept. 11, Mr. Trump ordered an end to the hold.In late August, Mr. Pompeo joined John R. Bolton, the national security adviser, and Mark T. Esper, the defense secretary, to argue to Mr. Trump in an Oval Office meeting that the White House should release the aid, but Mr. Trump ignored their recommendation. Around the same time, Mr. Trump was told about a whistle-blower complaint filed by a C.I.A. officer on the issue, and separately members of Congress were pressing for the aid to be released. On Sept. 11, Mr. Trump ordered an end to the hold.
Two senior State Department officials spoke with reporters on Monday about Mr. Pompeo’s upcoming trip, which also includes stops in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus, but declined to answer repeated questions about the pressure from the White House on Mr. Zelensky.Two senior State Department officials spoke with reporters on Monday about Mr. Pompeo’s upcoming trip, which also includes stops in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus, but declined to answer repeated questions about the pressure from the White House on Mr. Zelensky.
Mr. Pompeo spoke in general terms about the impeachment process when asked about it on “Fox and Friends” on Monday. “Whatever happens here in Washington, the American people should know that President Trump and our national security team are focused on keeping them safe,” he said.Mr. Pompeo spoke in general terms about the impeachment process when asked about it on “Fox and Friends” on Monday. “Whatever happens here in Washington, the American people should know that President Trump and our national security team are focused on keeping them safe,” he said.
In mid-December, Mr. Pompeo unveiled a personal Twitter account, which added to speculation that he plans to run for Senate from his home state of Kansas. But Mr. Pompeo dismissed the idea. “As long as President Trump wants me to serve in this capacity, there’s still work to do,” he said. “I’ve watched my life take turns that one would never have expected, but it’s not something I want to do.”In mid-December, Mr. Pompeo unveiled a personal Twitter account, which added to speculation that he plans to run for Senate from his home state of Kansas. But Mr. Pompeo dismissed the idea. “As long as President Trump wants me to serve in this capacity, there’s still work to do,” he said. “I’ve watched my life take turns that one would never have expected, but it’s not something I want to do.”