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WORLD NEWS Saturday 1 February 2020
Pompeo plays clean-up in Ukraine as Trump trial nears end

By MATTHEW LEE about a July 25 phone call ees. In an angry encoun-
AP Diplomatic Writer between Zelenskiy and ter after the interview, he
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As Trump. also questioned if Ameri-
the Senate lurched toward Ukraine is eager for good cans actually cared about
a vote to acquit President relations with Trump as Ukraine, according to NPR.
Donald Trump on impeach- it depends heavily on Pompeo's comments at
ment charges, Secretary of U.S. support to defend it- the news conference ap-
State Mike Pompeo played self from Russian-backed peared aimed at making
clean-up in the country at separatists. Although the amends for the reported
the center of the inquiry on military assistance was put comment, assuring Zelens-
Friday. on hold, it was eventually kiy of Washington's contin-
Visiting Ukraine, Pompeo released after a whistle- ued support.
denied the main allega- blower complaint brought "The United States sees that
tions that prompted the the July 25 call to light. The the Ukrainian struggle for
investigation, contradict- Trump administration has freedom, democracy and
ing witness testimony that also supplied Ukraine with prosperity is a valiant one. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, center, Ukrainian Foreign
Trump withheld critical lethal defense equipment, Our commitment to sup- Minister Vadym Prystaiko, left, and Metropolitan Epifaniy, head
military aid and a coveted including Javelin anti-tank port it will not waver," he of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, take part in a ceremony at
visit to the White House for weapons. The furor over said. the memorial to Ukrainian soldiers, who were killed in a recent
the nation's leader in ex- impeachment had, at the "The United States under- conflict in the country's eastern regions, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday
change for a corruption least, complicated discus- stands that Ukraine is an Jan. 31, 2020. Associated Press
investigation into a political sions about Ukraine poli- important country. It's not
rival. cy and had also caused just the geographic heart authoritarianism in eastern its pipelines keep Europe
In Kyiv, Pompeo also strains between Pompeo of Europe, it's a bulwark Europe. Its fields feed the warm in the winter," he
sought to distance himself and American diplomats, between freedom and European continent and said.q
from heated comments he who expressed concerns
reportedly made to a radio he was not doing enough
interviewer last weekend to support them during the
in which he questioned controversy.
whether Americans actu- Yet Zelenskiy maintained
ally care about Ukraine. He impeachment had not
said Americans value and had a negative effect on
respect Ukraine as a "bul- U.S.-Ukraine relations and
wark" against authoritari- thanked the Trump ad-
anism. ministration for its financial
Pompeo met with Ukrai- and military support. And
nian President Volodymyr Pompeo sought to reassure
Zelenskiy just hours before diplomats at the embassy
the Senate was to cast in Kyiv at a closed-door
crucial votes that could "meet and greet" event.
lead to an abrupt end and A senior U.S. official in the
acquittal in Trump's trial. meeting said Pompeo and
Democrats accuse Trump Zelenskiy mainly discussed
of withholding American investment and infrastruc-
security aid as leverage to ture and that there was
pressure Ukraine to investi- no talk of impeachment or
gate former Vice President corruption investigations.
Joe Biden and debunked The official was not autho-
theories of 2016 election in- rized to publicly discuss the
terference. Several witness- private conversation and
es at House impeachment spoke on condition of ano-
hearings testified about the nymity.
link, but Pompeo, a loyal Ukraine has been a deli-
Trump ally, denied the al- cate subject for Pompeo,
legations. who last weekend lashed
"It's just simply not the case. out at a National Public
We will find the right time, Radio reporter for asking
we will find the appropri- why he has not publicly de-
ate opportunity" for a visit fended the former U.S. am-
by Zelenskiy, Pompeo said bassador to Ukraine, Marie
at a press conference af- Yovanovitch. She was re-
ter meeting with the Ukrai- moved from her post after
nian leader. Pompeo had unsubstantiated allega-
not been expected to an- tions were made against
nounce a White House visit her by Trump's personal at-
while in Ukraine. torney, Rudolph Giuliani.
Pompeo is the highest- In the NPR interview, Pom-
ranking American official peo took umbrage when
to visit Ukraine since the asked if he owed Yova-
impeachment process be- novitch an apology, and
gan last year. That process maintained that he had
started with revelations defended all of his employ-