Trump meets with new Ukraine ambassador
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President Trump
on Monday met with the new Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. at a credentialing ceremony in the Oval Office, the White House said.
Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko was one of six diplomats recognized during the event, which is routine for new ambassadors. Similar ceremonies take place periodically throughout the year and are generally not open to the press.
Diplomats from South Korea, Thailand, Austria, Senegal and Timor-Leste were also present on Monday, according to the White House.
Yelchenko's presence was noteworthy given the impeachment proceedings unfolding on Capitol Hill that are centered on Trump's actions toward Ukraine. Yelchenko previously served as Ukraine's representative to the United Nations.
Democrats last month impeached Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The vote followed several weeks of public and private deposition from current and former administration officials who detailed the
administration's hold on security assistance for Ukraine and a shadow foreign policy led by
Rudy Giuliani
, Trump's personal lawyer.
Democrats have alleged that Trump made the security assistance, as well as a White House meeting for the Ukrainian president, contingent on the country announcing investigations into the president's political rivals.
The Senate is set to begin its trial of Trump in the coming weeks, though lawmakers are still negotiating the terms of the proceeding. Democrats have said they would like administration officials to testify, while Senate Majority Leader
Mitch McConnell
(R-Ky.) and other Republicans have voiced a preference for a quick trial that does not include witnesses.
Trump tweeted earlier Monday that the impeachment process "must end quickly," calling it a "con game by the Dems to help with the Election!"
[As for Ambassador Yelchenko, he is a native of Kyiv having been born there
in 1959. Volodymyr graduated from the Faculty of International Relations and International Law at Kyiv State University in 1981. Since 1981 he has worked in the diplomatic service of Ukraine. Between 1997 and 2000 he acted as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations in New York. From December 2000 till his next post he served at various senior posts within the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine. In 2005 - 2006 he was Ukraine's Ambassador to Austria, in 2006 - 2010 Mr. Yelchenko served as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, Austria. After 2010 Volodymyr Yelchenko served as Ambassador of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. On 17 March 2014, during the 2014 Crimean crisis, Yelchenko was recalled from Moscow for consultations in regards to situation with Crimea. Since then Ukraine’s highest diplomatic representation in Russia is its temporary chargé d'affaires. On December 9, 2015 Yelchenko was appointed Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations.]
