Mike Pompeo in Montenegro as Trump impeachment inquiry picks up

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Montenegro and rth Macedonia on Friday to show support for a current NATO ally and a soon-to-be one, as a Ukraine-focused impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump picked up steam. Pompeo flew to Montenegrin capital of Podgorica and n on to Ohrid in rth Macedonia, a day after one of his former top aides told congressional investigators in Washington about efforts to press Ukraine’s government to open a corruption probe that could have targeted former Vice President Joe Biden’s son.

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Pompeo did t speak with reporters aboard his plane on eir flight and declined to respond to a question about actions of former special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker during a photo opportunity with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Dusko Markovic and Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmavich. Meanwhile, State Department h comment on Volker’s 10-hour congressional interview on Thursday or on text messs he turned over that detail a push to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to commit to corruption probe in exchange for a visit to Washington.

case in review

Shortly after Pompeo left Rome, where he spent three days on first leg of a four-nation tour of Europe, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General said his office is reviewing all cases that were closed by his predecessors, including several related to owner of a gas company where Biden’s son Hunter sat on board. Earlier this week in Rome, Pompeo ackwledged for first time that he h been on a July 25 phone call between Trump and Zelenskiy during which an investigation was raised. He said call was part of a broer effort to get Ukraine to crack down on corruption that Volker and ors were involved in. He has said previously that one from State Department acted inappropriately in dealing with Ukraine. House Democrats launched impeachment inquiry over Ukraine matter after a government whistleblower disclosed Trump’s call with Zelenskiy and push to have a foreign government interfere in U.S. elections by digging up dirt on Biden. 

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Montenegro and rth Macedonia with US

Like Ukraine, Montenegro and rth Macedonia are seeking closer ties with West. Montenegro joined NATO in 2017, 11 years after it regained independence, and is seeking membership in European Union. rth Macedonia will become NATO’s 30th member as soon as or allies complete ir ratification processes. Pompeo congratulated Montenegrin President Milo Djukavich for progress his country has me in improving its ecomy and said he h discussed broening and strengning U.S.-Montenegro ecomic and security ties as well as promoting anti-corruption and rule of law reforms. In ancient city of Ohrid in rth Macedonia, Pompeo was expected to cover a similar ground with President Stevo Pendarovski. Later Friday, Pompeo will travel to Ans where he will meet Greek officials over weekend before returning to Washington and center of impeachment inquiry.

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