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 post-Soviet countries and beyond, from Moscow to Hong Kong." "A secure, democratic, and free Ukraine [thus] serves not just the Ukrainian people, but the American people as well. That's why it was our policy and continues to be our policy to help the Ukrainians achieve their objectives. They match our objectives."

As Mr. Holmes testified, a White House visit and U.S. support was "critical" to President Zelensky implementing his platform. President Zelensky was a new leader, "looking to establish his bona fides as a regional and maybe even a world leader." In that context, a meeting with the United States—the most "powerful country in the world and Ukraine's most significant benefactor"—would have gone a long way in ensuring that President Zelensky had the credibility to implement his reforms. Yet, to this day and as a result of President Trump's desire to obtain a personal political advantage in the upcoming election, no such meeting has occurred. This surely has not gone unnoticed by Ukraine, our democratic allies, or countries struggling to enforce similar democratic ideals. Indeed, Zelensky administration officials already are reportedly "now reconsidering their strategy on communication with and about the Trump administration."

Fourth, President Trump's brazen use of official acts to pressure Ukraine to announce a politically motivated investigation undermined our credibility in promoting democratic values and the rule of law in Ukraine and elsewhere. As Ambassador Taylor underscored, "[o]ur credibility is based on a respect for the United States," and "if we damage that respect, then it hurts our credibility and makes it more difficult for us to do our jobs." Mr. Kent, too, agreed that the President's request for investigations "went against U.S. policy" and "would've undermined the rule of law and our longstanding policy goals in Ukraine, as in other countries, in the post-Soviet space."

Ukrainian officials' reaction to American requests following President Trump's demand illuminates this concern. When Ambassador Volker advised Mr. Yermak about "potential problems" with investigations that the Zelensky administration was contemplating into former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Mr. Yermak retorted, "what, you mean like asking us to investigate Clinton and Biden?" Ambassador Volker did not respond.