A new cache of text messages released late Thursday reveals that top U.S. diplomats believed President Trump would not meet with Ukraine’s president unless the country launched investigations into Trump’s political enemies. Over several weeks, they coordinated with a top aide to new leader Volodymyr Zelensky and with Trump’s personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani to try to accomplish both, the texts show.

Ukraine
Trump circle
Andrey Yermak
Rudolph W.
Giuliani
Aide to Ukrainian
President Volodymyr
Zelensky
President Trump’s
personal attorney
U.S. diplomats
Kurt Volker
Gordon
Sondland
Former U.S. Special
Envoy for Ukraine
U.S. Ambassador
to the European
Union
William “Bill”
Taylor
Charges d’Affaires
at the U.S. embassy
in Ukraine

Ukraine
Trump circle
Andrey Yermak
Rudolph W.
Giuliani
Aide to Ukrainian
President Volodymyr
Zelensky
President Trump’s
personal attorney
U.S. diplomats
Kurt Volker
Gordon
Sondland
William “Bill”
Taylor
Former U.S. Special
Envoy for Ukraine
U.S. Ambassador
to the European
Union
Charges d’Affaires
at the U.S. embassy
in Ukraine

Ukraine
U.S. diplomats
Trump circle
Kurt Volker
Gordon
Sondland
William “Bill”
Taylor
Rudolph W.
Giuliani
Andrey Yermak
Aide to Ukrainian
President Volodymyr
Zelensky
Former U.S. Special
Envoy for Ukraine
U.S. Ambassador
to the European
Union
Charges d’Affaires
at the U.S. embassy
in Ukraine
President Trump’s
personal attorney
The excerpts were provided by Kurt Volker, the special envoy to Ukraine until his resignation last week. They were released by House Democratic investigators following Volker’s 10-hour deposition on Thursday as part of the fast-moving impeachment inquiry into Trump. Among those involved were Volker, U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, and William “Bill” Taylor, the U.S. Charges D’affaires in Ukraine. They show that Volker connected Andrey Yermak, the aide to Zelensky, and Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer.
[Officials’ texts reveal belief that Trump wanted probes as condition of Ukraine meeting]
Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), the House Intelligence Committee chairman leading the investigation, and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), said in a letter that the texts released were “only a subset” of all the messages. Read the messages released below.
Volker introduces Giuliani to Yermak
July 19, 2019
“Mr. Mayor” in this exchange refers to President Trump’s personal lawyer, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. At this point, Giuliani had already been pushing the idea that Ukraine should pursue specific investigations for months. His efforts included multiple meetings with two of the country’s prosecutors general, according to media reports and the whistleblower complaint.
Giuliani has pointed to such text messages as indicating the State Department was aware of and even supported his efforts in Ukraine.
Officials discuss goals for the Trump-Zelensky call
July 19, 2019
These texts provide the earliest known example of the participants suggesting Zelensky will need to promise Trump something – without raising the other side of a potential quid pro quo, though. Sondland suggests he has briefed Zelensky on what to expect on his upcoming call with Trump. In response, Volker refers to the specific idea that Zelensky should tell Trump that “he will help investigation.”
Concerns about Ukraine becoming an ‘instrument’
July 21, 2019
Here comes the first indication that this was understood as relating to Trump’s political prospects. “Sasha Danyliuk” appears to refer to Oleksandr Danylyuk, Ukraine’s former finance minister who recently resigned as Zelensky’s secretary of the national security and defence council. Per Taylor, he said Zelensky was wary of it looking like the United States dictated its business to Ukraine. Sondland, interestingly, responds by referring to the “pretext” of the two countries’ conversation and relationship. It’s not clear to what he is referring.
Officials plan Trump and Zelensky’s July 25 call
July 22, 2019
Volker sends along word that Giuliani is approving of Trump speaking with Zelensky by phone, and the two of them talk about how they will set it up. (“Fiona” refers to Fiona Hill, a former top Russia adviser in the White House. “Bolton” refers to then-national security adviser John Bolton. “Mick” refers to acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.)
Volker and Yermak discuss the call before and after
July 25, 2019
Here’s the big one. For the first time that we know of, a U.S. official ties Zelensky’s investigative promise to getting a White House visit – a potential quid pro quo. Volker, importantly, also indicates this was a message conveyed from the White House. And this came before the Trump-Zelensky call, so this was more coaching from U.S. diplomats of what Zelensky was supposed to say.
Yermak responds after the call and floats a few dates. These dates have now passed, though, and the trip has still not been planned.
U.S. officials advise Ukrainians on investigation language
Aug. 9, 2019
Here, Volker and Sondland plot out a potential statement Ukraine might make, in addition to a live press conference where Zelensky (they’ve apparently been led to believe) would make an announcement. Sondland also refers to a “deliverable” – apparently a reference to the end result of Ukraine actually announcing the investigations – and suggests Trump is anxious to get it.
Giuliani’s input sought on Ukraine statement
Aug. 9, 2019
Volker loops Giuliani in on what the Ukraine statement might say. Again, Giuliani has suggested this meant the State Department was on-board with his efforts.
Yermak seeks date for White House visit
Aug. 10, 2019
Yermak has apparently been given a list of things that should be included in the statement. But – and this is the key – he wants to get a date for a White House visit before Ukraine makes the commitments. This, again, suggests that the meeting was used as leverage. Volker proposes that they could finalize the statement and then use that to convince Trump to schedule the meeting.
Also important here is that Yermak refers explicitly to the investigations into the origins of the Russia investigation and the Bidens (Burisma).
Desire for specific references in Ukrainian statement
Aug. 13, 2019
They appear to be reviewing language intended for Ukraine’s statement.
Aug. 17, 2019
Volker suggests someone is giving a “clear message” that the Ukraine statement should be specific about the two investigations. It’s not clear who that message is coming from.
Yermak shares report of U.S. withholding assistance
Aug. 29, 2019
The link here is to a Politico story about the Trump administration deciding to withhold $250 million in military aid to Ukraine. Reporting has suggested Ukraine might not have known it was being withheld, though Yermak doesn’t specifically indicate that this is the first time they are finding out about it.
U.S officials discuss Trump’s trip, withholding military assistance for Ukraine
Aug. 30, 2019
“The bilat” refers to Vice President Pence’s visit to Poland, where he would meet Zelensky.
Sept. 1, 2019
For the first time, one of the diplomats suggests the military aid — separate from the meeting — is being withheld as leverage. It’s not clear why Taylor believes that. It could simply be that he saw the newspaper stories like the one Yermak shared.
Sondland’s response – “Call me” – suggests he knows they shouldn’t discuss things in a written form which could wind up in inquiries like this.
Sept. 8, 2019
The three of them seem to try to salvage the situation. Taylor again suggests exasperation.
Sept. 9, 2019
Another big moment: Taylor repeats his concern that military aid is being withheld for bad reasons – this time suggesting it’s “for help with a political campaign.” Sondland again suggests they talk about it rather than text, and delivers a lengthy defense of Trump that again suggests he’s mindful of who might see these texts one day.
This conversation, notably, came eight days after Taylor first raised this prospect, and he apparently hadn’t been disavowed of it during that time period.
Ann Gerhart contributed to this report.
Read more:
What’s next in the Trump impeachment inquiry, and will Trump cooperate with it?
Three deeply problematic aspects of newly released text messages centered on the Ukraine scandal
Live updates: Trump says the Democratic-led House has the votes to impeach him