washington foreign policy adviser u.s. presidential candidate donald trump confirm attendance meet last month republican party agree watered-down language support ukraine j. d. gordon adviser previously serve pentagon spokesman say present meet republican national convention sit side table staff among delegate charge shape ukraine platform one delegate attendance diana denman say gordon tell go speak trump debate platform language ukraine say believe trump campaign play direct role soften party support ukraine time heighten tensions russia trump campaign deny play role weaken party position regard ukraine gordon call denman version events inaccurate stephen yates co-chair national security subcommittee confirm trump campaign members present meet ukraine language rnc platform discuss say delegate participate debate deny trump campaign play role soften ukraine language detail meet cleveland attract scrutiny raise question trump campaign stance toward russia trump say would seek build close relationship russian president vladimir putin praise strong leader u.s. president barack obama last month trump also suggest might defend nato ally spend defense appear invite russia hack email democratic opponent hillary clinton suggest might accept russia 2014 annexation crimea ukraine denman member platform committee national security subcommittee say propose language support provide lethal defensive weapons ukraine arm force great coordination nato defense plan phrase eventually change remove reference lethal defensive weapons end platform serve largely symbolic statement party priorities criticize obama administration encourage resurgent russia support continue sanction moscow appropriate assistance arm force ukraine without specify would involve yates say denman could reintroduce amendment full committee meet felt strong-arm subcommittee particular sympathy delegate choose avail opportunity full committee start spin yarn come say denman say stand account russia thursday announce would conduct war game black sea day putin accuse ukraine try provoke conflict crimea trump adviser join key party meet ukraine