Acting Ambassador William Taylor dodged questions about his testimony in the impeachment inquiry against President TrumpDonald John TrumpNumber of uninsured children rises for second year, tops 4 million Trump moment from White House Halloween trick-or-treat event goes viral White House official says transcript of Ukraine call omitted key phrases: report MORE at an event Tuesday in Ukraine.
Taylor declined to answer questions about his testimony before Congress last week but was greeted by applause at the international economic conference for diplomats and business leaders in Mariupol, Ukraine, NBC News reported.
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The diplomat instead praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“President Zelenskiy ran on two things: One was ending the war on Ukrainian terms. And the second was defeating corruption,” Taylor told NBC News. “He has done some very brave things on ending the war.”
The Ukrainian president also declined to answer questions from NBC News about the controversy surrounding his call with President Trump from July.
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“I can give you many comments about the USA,” Zelensky told NBC News. “Great country, great people, but I don’t know what’s going on in the USA. I’m so sorry. I’m the president of Ukraine.”
Taylor testified in front of the House committees leading the impeachment inquiry last week, providing testimony that Democrats said gave the clearest evidence that the president withheld military aid from Ukraine to get the country to investigate former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenWhite House official says transcript of Ukraine call omitted key phrases: report Biden uses National Cat Day to fundraise for putting a ‘pet back in White House’ Sondland emerges as key target after Vindman testimony MORE and his son Hunter.
A whistleblower report detailing a call between Trump and Zelensky sparked Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOvernight Defense: House approves Turkey sanctions in rebuke of Trump | Trump attacks on Army officer testifying spark backlash | Dems want answers from Esper over Ukraine aid Mark Mellman: Three questions for Republicans White House: Democrats’ resolution shows impeachment is ‘illegitimate sham’ MORE (D-Calif.) to launch the impeachment inquiry after reporting Trump asked the Ukrainian leader to look into Biden and his son.
Most of the hearings, including Taylor’s testimony, have taken place behind closed doors, in front of the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Reform committees. Republicans have condemned the proceedings for being private and staged a protest during one of the hearings last week.
House Democrats said Monday they plan to open the inquiry to a vote Thursday.