Impeachment Inquiry: Trump told that Ukrainian president would do 'whatever he wants'

21 November 2019, 16:10

The impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump has heard the US president was told Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky would do "anything he asked him to."

David Holmes, from the US embassy in Kiev, told the inquiry that he heard a phone call between US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland and President Trump in which an investigation into Joe Biden and his son was discussed.

He said the president's voice was "loud and recognisable" and that there was no doubt that it was him.

Mr Holmes also said that Ambassador Sondland held the phone away from his ear during the phone call due to the "loud volume" the president was speaking at, so he could hear the conversation clearly.

According to the diplomat, Mr Sondland told Trump that President Zelensky "loves your a**".

When pushed by Mr Trump on whether the investigation would go ahead, Mr Sondland reportedly replied "he's going to do it" before commenting that he will "do anything you ask him to."

However the president took to Twitter to dismiss the claims.

Mr Trump accused David Holmes of lying about his ability to hear the entire phone call between himself and Ambassador Sondland.

He wrote: "I have been watching people making phone calls my entire life. My hearing is, and has been, great."

"Never have I been watching a person making a call, which was not on speakerphone, and been able to hear or understand a conversation. I’ve even tried, but to no avail. Try it live!"

President Trump is accused of abusing his office by allegedly asking the Ukrainian President to investigate his political rival Joe Biden or risk losing military aid from the US.