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.