U.S. wouldn't be sufficiently helpful to Ukraine.

Republicans, however, have countered that military aid to Ukraine was released in September, and that there has been no evidence Ukrainians were aware that the aid was being withheld as part of any implicit quid pro quo. However, Politico reported that the Ukraine aid was being held up in August -- two weeks before it was released.

Ukrainian officials have denied that there was any undue pressure from the White House.

READ TAYLOR'S FULL OPENING STATEMENT

Taylor went on to describe the existence of an "irregular" communications channel with Ukraine led by Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, and a "weird combination of encouraging, confusing, and ultimately alarming circumstances" once he arrived in Kiev. The statement confirmed previous reporting of Taylor's remarks by Fox News.

"During this sameSondland a text message asking if security assistance and a White House meeting "are conditioned on investigations," prompting Sondland to request Taylor call him. Although those texts have previously been released, the contents of Taylor's call have been unclear.

EXPANSIVE DURHAM PROBE COULD GIVE TRUMP AMMO AMID IMPEACHMENT FIGHT

"During that phone call, Ambassador Sondland told me that President Trump had told him that he wants President Zelenskyy to state publicly that Ukrain will investigate Burisma and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U.S. election," Taylor testified.

"Once I arrived in Kiev, I discovered a weird combination ofencouraging, confusing, andultimately alarming circumstances." — Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor

“By mid-July it was becoming clear to me that the meeting President Zelenskyy wanted was conditioned on the investigations of Burisma and