Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, 
thank you for the opportunity to address

the House Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence

with respect to the activities 
relating to Ukraine

and my role in the events 
under investigation.

I have dedicated 
my entire professional life

to the United States of America.

For more than two decades,

it has been my honor to serve
as an officer in the United States Army.

As an infantry officer,

I served multiple overseas tours, 
including South Korea and Germany,

and I was deployed to Iraq 
for combat operations.

Since 2008, I have been 
a Foreign Area Officer

specializing in European and Eurasian 
politico-military affairs.

I served in the United States embassies 
in Kiev, Ukraine and Moscow, Russia.

In Washington, D.C.,

I was a politico-military affairs officer 
for Russia

for the Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

where I drafted the Armed Forces’ 
global campaign plan

to counter Russian aggression 
and Russian malign influence.

In July 2018, I was asked to serve

at the White House’s 
National Security Council.

At the NSC I am the principal advisor
to the National Security Advisor

on Ukraine and other countries 
in my portfolio.

My role at the NSC is to develop, 
coordinate, and implement

plans and policies to manage

the full range of diplomatic, 
informational, military,

and economic national security issues 
for the countries in my portfolio.

My core function is to coordinate policy 
with departments and agencies..

The Committee has heard 
from many of my colleagues

about the strategic importance of Ukraine 
as a bulwark against Russian aggression.

It is important to note 
that our country’s policy

of supporting Ukrainian sovereignty 
and territorial integrity,

promoting Ukrainian prosperity,

and strengthening 
a free and democratic Ukraine,

as a counter to Russian aggression,

has been a consistent, bi-partisan 
foreign policy objective and strategy

across various administrations, 
both Democrat and Republican,

and that President Zelenskyy’s election, 
in April 2019,

created an unprecedented opportunity 
to realize our strategic objectives.

In the Spring of 2019, 
I became aware of two disruptive actors–-

primarily Ukraine’s 
then-Prosecutor Yuri Lutsenko

and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, 
President’s personal attorney—

promoting false narratives 
that undermined

the United States’ Ukraine policy.

The NSC and its inter-agency partners, 
including the State Department,

grew increasingly concerned 
about the impact

that such information was having 
on our country’s ability to achieve

our national security objectives.

On April 21, 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy 
was elected President of Ukraine

in a landslide victory on a unity, reform,
and anti-corruption platform.

President Trump called President Zelenskyy
on April 21, 2019,

to congratulate him for his victory.

I was the staff officer 
who produced the call materials

and was one of the staff officers 
who listened to the call.

The call was positive

and President Trump expressed his desire 
to work with President Zelenskyy

and extended an invitation 
to visit the White House.

In May, I attended the inauguration 
of President Zelenskyy

as part of the Presidential delegation 
led by Secretary Perry.

Following the visit,

the members of the delegation 
provided President Trump a debriefing

offering a positive assessment 
of President Zelenskyy and his team.

After this debriefing,

President Trump signed
a congratulatory letter

to President Zelenskyy

and extended another invitation
to visit the White House.

On July 10, 2019, Oleksandr Danylyuk, 
then Ukraine’s National Security Advisor,

visited Washington, D.C. for a meeting 
with National Security Advisor Bolton.

Ambassadors Volker and Sondland
and Secretary Rick Perry

also attended the meeting.

I attended with Dr. Hill.

We fully anticipated the Ukrainians 
would raise the issue of a meeting

between the presidents.

Ambassador Bolton cut the meeting short 
when Ambassador Sondland started to speak

about the requirement that Ukraine 
deliver specific investigations

in order to secure 
the meeting with President Trump.

Following this meeting, 
there was a short debriefing

during which Amb. Sondland emphasized 
the importance of Ukraine delivering

the investigations into the 2016 election,
the Bidens, and Burisma.

I stated to Ambassador Sondland 
that this was inappropriate

and had nothing to do 
with national security.

Dr. Hill also asserted 
his comments were improper.

Following the meeting Dr. Hill and I 
had agreed to report the incident

to the NSC’s lead counsel, 
Mr. John Eisenberg.

On July 21, 2019, 
President Zelenskyy

won a parliamentary election
in another landslide victory.

The NSC proposed that President Trump 
call President Zelenskyy

to congratulate him.

On July 25, 2019, the call occurred.

I listened in on the call 
in the Situation Room

with White House colleagues.

I was concerned by the call, 
what I heard was inappropriate,

and I reported my concerns 
to Mr. Eisenberg.

It is improper for the President 
of the United States

to demand a foreign government

investigate a U.S. citizen 
and a political opponent.

It was also clear that 
if Ukraine pursued an investigation

into the 2016 election, 
the Bidens, and Burisma,

it would be interpreted 
as a partisan play.

This would undoubtedly result 
in Ukraine losing bipartisan support,

undermining U.S. national security,

and advancing Russia’s 
strategic objectives in the region.

I want to emphasize to the Committee 
that when I reported my concerns

-- on July 10, 
relating to Ambassador Sondland,

and on July 25, 
relating to the President --

I did so out of a sense of duty.

I privately reported my concerns, 
in official channels,

to the proper authorities 
in the chain of command.

My intent was to raise these concerns

because they had significant 
national security implications

for our country.

I never thought I would be sitting here

testifying in front of this committee 
and the American public, about my actions.

When I reported my concerns,

my only thought was to act properly 
and to carry out my duty.

Following each of my reports 
to Mr. Eisenberg,

I immediately returned to work
to advance

the President’s and our country’s 
foreign policy objectives.

I focused on what I have done 
throughout my military career,

promoting America’s 
national security interests.

I want to take a moment 
to recognize the courage of my colleagues

who have appeared 
and are scheduled to appear

before this Committee.

I want to state that 
the character attacks

on these distinguished 
and honorable public servants

is reprehensible.

It is natural to disagree 
and engage in spirited debate,

this has been the custom of our country 
since the time of our Founding Fathers,

but we are better 
than personal attacks.

The uniform I wear today 
is that of the United States Army.

The members of our all-volunteer force 
are made up of a patchwork

of people from all ethnicities, regions, 
and socio-economic backgrounds

who come together under a common oath 
to protect and defend

the Constitution 
of the United States of America.

We do not serve 
any political party,

we serve the nation.

I am humbled to come before you today 
as one of many who serve

in the most distinguished 
and able military in the world.

The Army is the only profession 
I have ever known.

As a young man I decided 
that I wanted to spend my life

serving this nation 
that gave my family refuge

from authoritarian oppression,

For the last twenty years 
it has been an honor

to represent and protect 
this great country.

Next month will mark 40 years since 
my family arrived

in the United States as refugees.

When my father was 47 years old

he left behind his entire life 
and the only home he had ever known

to start over in the United States

so his three sons could have 
better, safer lives.

His courageous decision inspired 
a deep sense of gratitude

in my brothers and myself

and instilled in us 
a sense of duty and service.

All three of us have served 
or are currently serving in the military.

My little brother stood behind me
here today.

Our collective military service 
is a special part

of our family’s story 
in America.

I also recognize that my simple act 
of appearing here today,

just like the courage of my colleagues

who have also truthfully testified 
before this Committee,

would not be tolerated 
in many places around the world.

In Russia, my act of expressing 
concerns to the chain of command

in an official and private channel

would have severe personal 
and professional repercussions

and offering public testimony 
involving the President

would surely cost me my life.

I am grateful for my father’s 
brave act of hope 40 years ago

and for the privilege of being 
an American citizen and public servant,

where I can live free of fear 
for mine and my family’s safety.

Dad, I'm sitting here today, 
in the US Capitol

talking to our elected officials 
is proof

that you made the right decision 
forty years ago

to leave the Soviet Union

and come here 
to United State of America

in search of a better life 
for our family.

Do not worry, 
I will be fine for telling the truth.

Thank you again for your consideration,

I'll be happy 
to answer your questions.