Russia and Putin · First term · № 53
Asked Zelensky for 'a favor' while about $391 million in U.S. security aid to Ukraine was on hold
“I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it.”
- Said
- , Phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine (White House memorandum)
- Subject
- Ukraine military aid hold
- Type
- Ukraine
- Topic
- Ukraine & Russia
- Era
- First term
What happened
In the summer of 2019 the Office of Management and Budget withheld security assistance that Congress had appropriated for Ukraine. On a July 25 call, after Zelensky said Ukraine was almost ready to buy more Javelin anti-tank missiles, Trump asked him to look into CrowdStrike and, later in the call, the Bidens, according to the White House memorandum. The hold was extended nine times before a decision on September 11, 2019 to release the roughly $391 million. The Government Accountability Office concluded on January 16, 2020 that the withholding was for a policy reason and violated the Impoundment Control Act. The House impeached Trump on December 18, 2019, and the Senate acquitted him on February 5, 2020 by 52-48 and 53-47. Trump denied wrongdoing.
Sources
- Memorandum of Telephone Conversation: Telephone Conversation with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine
- Remarks: Donald Trump Calls Volodymyr Zelensky of the Ukraine on July 25, 2019
- GAO concludes Trump administration broke law by withholding Ukraine aid
- 'Not Guilty': Trump Acquitted On 2 Articles Of Impeachment As Historic Trial Closes
- Trump acquitted by Senate in impeachment trial