Relations Committee Considers the nomination of John Sullivan to the u. S. Ambassador to russia. Mr. Sullivan, who currently serves is deputy secretary of state, was asked several questions about the President Trumps communication with the president of ukraine in july and alleged efforts to have ukraine investigate former Vice President joe biden in exchange for military aid. This confirmation hearing is just on two and a off hours. [background sounds] [background sounds] the meeting will come to order. Thank you all for attending today. Today were going to hold the nomination hearing on a very important position. Our nominee today is the honorable john j sullivan, to be the u. S. Investor to the Russian Federation. First we have two distinguished very distinguished, i might add colleagues of ours, was to introduce our nominees and were going to allow them to proceed with introductions. If im going to post on my opening statement. Lets hold that until the nominees had been introduced.
[background sounds] the meeting will come to order. Thank you all for attending today. Today were going to hold the nomination hearing on a very important position. Our nominee today is the honorable john j sullivan, to be the u. S. Investor to the Russian Federation. First we have two distinguished very distinguished, i might add colleagues of ours, was to introduce our nominees and were going to allow them to proceed with introductions. If im going to post on my opening statement. Lets hold that until the nominees had been introduced. Were glad to be joined today by senator Stan Sullivan of alaska and garden of maryland, and i understand that senator sullivan is like the straw to go first. Thank you mr. Chairman thank you very much. It is an honor to be before the committee, again, on behalf of my friend John Sullivan to support his nomination to be the United States investor to the Russian Federation. Despite what his last name which is just, we would we are not related. Off of occa
Change in ukraine is the v. Weakness of ski and specifically driven by his need to feel loved he wants to be loved by everyone thats but thats not ok thats a personal agenda but thats not a political agenda here exactly my point my point so there is no political agenda my point is what i brought up because he did visibly change ok and now we have we have a lot of mixed language ok i mean he he wants peace with russia he wants some kind of resolution with the donbass he has to Pay Lip Service to you to crimea though its very i think everyone knows that when we was it pays lip service to it and you know and then you have his western backers that want him to start making decisions to resolve this conflict but he cant hes paralyzed is it him or is it weve already heard its the institutions that are well i think the main problem is. Understanding you know the west misunderstood zillions of these big tree through reasons was an answer is a big tree where it was the fact that people were tire
Institutions weak or both or is it just because theres a free fringe group out there thats trying to call the shots. Last night. In february 2014 demonstrated the weakness of basic institutions of government in ukraine and the absence of any understanding of the concept of rule of law and that has persisted from then on there is lip service to the terms but no deep commitment or understanding of it i would take lightly different tack with respect to the right wing neo nazi element in ukrainian politics it exists it has an outsized influence but i dont think it is really the thing that is preventing change right now i think the thing that is preventing change in ukraine is the v. Weakness. Of the city and ski specifically driven by his need to feel loved he wants to be loved by everyone thats but thats not ok thats a personal agenda but thats not a political agenda here exactly my point my point so there is no political agenda my point is what i brought up because he did visibly change
Deep commitment or understanding of it i would take a slightly different tack with respect to the right wing neo nazi element in ukrainian politics it exists it has an outsized influence but i dont think it is really the thing that is preventing change right now i think the thing that is preventing change in ukraine is the v. Weakness of ski and specifically driven by his need to feel loved he wants to be loved by everyone thats but thats not ok thats a personal agenda but thats not a political agenda exactly my point my point so there is no political agenda my point is what i brought up because he did visibly change ok and now we have we have a lot of mixed language ok i mean he he wants peace with russia he wants some kind of resolution with the donbass he has to Pay Lip Service to you to crimea though its very i think everyone knows that when we lose it we paid lip service to it and you know and then you have his western backers that want him to start making decisions to resolve thi