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 Two minutes after the call ended, Ambassador Volker sent a WhatsApp message to Ambassador Sondland and Mr. Yermak: “Hi Andreywe spoke with Rudy. When is good to call you?”796 Ambassador Sondland replied that it was, “Important. Do you have 5 mins.”797 They agreed to a call approximately 10 minutes later.798 When Ambassador Sondland suggested having his “operator” in Brussels dial in the group, Ambassador Volker asked if they could “do this one on what’s App?”799 Text messages and calls in the WhatsApp cell phone application are encrypted from end-to-end, ensuring that WhatsApp employees and third parties cannot listen in or retrieve deleted communications.800

Shortly before the call, Ambassador Volker sent a revised draft of the proposed statement to Ambassador Sondland. It had been edited to include reference to Burisma and the 2016 elections:


 * Special attention should be paid to the problem of interference in the political processes of the United States, especially with the alleged involvement of some Ukrainian politicians. I want to declare that this is unacceptable. We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes including those involving Burisma and the 2016 US elections, which in turn will prevent the recurrence of this problem in the future.801


 * Ambassador Sondland replied: “Perfect. Lets send to Andrey after our call.”802

Following the call, Ambassador Volker texted Ambassador Sondland and Mr. Yermak: “Andreygood talkingfollowing is text with insert at the end for the 2 key items.”803 Ambassador Volker then sent to them the revised statement that included the explicit references to “Burisma and 2016 elections.”804

Comparison of Draft Statements

Yermak Draft August 12

Special attention should be paid to the problem of interference in the political processes of the United States, especially with the alleged involvement of some Ukrainian politicians. I want to declare that this is unacceptable. We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes, which in turn will prevent the recurrence of this problem in the future.

Giuliani-Volker-Sondland Draft August 13

Special attention should be paid to the problem of interference in the political processes of the United States, especially with the alleged involvement of some Ukrainian politicians. I want to declare that this is unacceptable. We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes, which in turn will prevent the recurrence of this problem in the future.