Gordon Sondland confirms Ukraine 'quid pro quo,' says he raised concerns

U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland confirmed Wednesday the existence of a "quid pro quo" in which military aid to Ukraine was tied to President Donald Trump's call for an investigation of his political rival, Joe Biden.

Sondland, testifying on Capitol Hill in the Trump impeachment inquiry, said he was acting on Trump's orders in his actions with regard to Ukraine.

He said, "At all times, I was acting in good faith. As a presidential appointee, I followed the directions of the President."

Sondland said Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani pressed the demand for investigations of Biden, the former vice president, and his son, Hunter, who worked for Burisma Holdings. Giuliani made clear that the investigations would be required in order for the White House grant a meeting that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was seeking with Trump.

Sondland said he, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Ukraine special envoy Kurt Volker worked with "Giuliani on Ukraine matters at the express direction of the President of the United States."

"We did not want to work with Mr. Giuliani, " he said. "Simply put, we played the hand we were dealt. We all understood that if we refused to work with Mr. Giuliani, we would lose an important opportunity to cement relations between the United States and Ukraine. So we followed the President’s orders."

"We worked with Mr. Giuliani because the President directed us to do so," he said again.

The testimony from Sondland, a wealthy Portland, Oregon, hotelier and Trump donor, is being closely watched because of his ability to offer a first hand account of his discussions with Trump on Ukraine.