You're reading: Gordon Sondland: ‘Ukraine is not a dirty word’

Editor’s Note: The following are the opening remarks on Oct. 17 of U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland before U.S House committees conducting an impeachment inquiry of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, stemming from his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky. The remarks were obtained by NBC News.

Let me state clearly: Inviting a foreign government to undertake investigations for the purpose of influencing an upcoming U.S. election would be wrong. Withholding foreign aid in order to pressure a foreign government to take such steps would be wrong. I did not and would not ever participate in such undertakings. In my opinion, security aid to Ukraine was in our vital national interest and should not have been delayed for any reason.

In conclusion

Simply put, my goal has always been to advance U.S. interests in securing a strong relationship with Ukraine. I continue to see our relationship with President Zelensky as having great importance to national security, and I continue to work to strengthen our ties, advance our mutual interests, and secure a stable, prosperous Ukraine for future generations. I will end my remarks the same way I began: Ukraine is not a dirty word. Ukraine is a fragile democracy fighting against a brutal and unscrupulous Russian neighbor. A strong Ukraine helps to uphold the norms that maintain stability and promote prosperity around the world. It remains an honor to serve the people of the United States as their Ambassador to the European Union. I look forward to going back to work tomorrow to advance the interests of the United States of America.

Read Gordon Sondland’s opening remarks here