WASHINGTON — Just before the Nov. 15 public impeachment inquiry hearings began with testimony from former U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, U.S. President Donald J. Trump released a transcript of his first call to newly-elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
It was read into the official record by Devin Nunes, the ranking Republican Party member of the House of Representatives intelligence committee running the hearings. What he read was a seemingly innocuous exchange.
In the call, Trump congratulates Zelensky on his victory, calling it “a job well done” and “an incredible election” adding: “I have many friends in Ukraine who know you and like you….I have no doubt you will be a fantastic president.”
The Ukrainian president told Trump that he regarded him as a great example and referred to his economic successes in the U.S., Zelensky then invited Trump to Kyiv for his inauguration.
Trump thanked him for the invitation and said he would consider it, adding, “When I owned Miss Universe, they always had great people. Ukraine was always very well represented.”
Zelensky tried to persuade him to attend by listing Ukraine’s attractions such as its beauty, friendly people and delicious cuisine, urging Trump that mere words could not describe the country and the American president should visit personally.
Trump said that if he did not attend, he would send a very high-level delegation to represent him. He said that after Zelensky had “settled into” his new role, Trump would like to invite him for a White House visit.
It was not clear in which languages the conversation was conducted, but Zelensky thanked Trump for the invitation and said that he would improve his English before the visit. That brought a friendly chuckle from Trump, who wished Zelensky luck in a speech Zelensky was due to make, and the two leaders wished each other well.
