Sen. Chris Murphy Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDemocratic senator calls for 'more flexible' medical supply chain to counter pandemics The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon GOP chairman to release interim report on Biden probe 'in about a week' MORE (D-Conn.) said Sunday that Ukrainian officials are "going to try to put a good spin on" interactions with President Trump, as the country is still reliant on the U.S. for its safety.

"Ukrainians are always going to try to put a good spin on this," Murphy said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

His answer was in response to Ukraine's foreign minister telling reporters last week that U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland Gordon SondlandGOP chairman vows to protect whistleblowers following Vindman retirement over 'bullying' Top Democrat slams Trump's new EU envoy: Not 'a political donor's part-time job' Trump names new EU envoy, filling post left vacant by impeachment witness Sondland MORE did not link requests for investigations into Trump's political rival to military assistance.

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Republicans have jumped on the statement as proof there was no quid pro quo in Trump's dealings with Ukraine.

"They are presently reliant on the goodwill of Donald Trump in order to keep that country safe," Murphy said.

"Nobody should be surprised when the Ukrainians are trying to put as good a spin on this as possible," he added.

Murphy said Ukraine has to "stay in the president's good graces" as Trump still "holds enormous leverage" over Ukraine's safety and sovereignty.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko told reporters, "Sondland did not tell us, and did not tell me exactly, about the relation between the [military] assistance and the investigations."

"I have never seen a direct link between investigations and security assistance. Yes, investigations were mentioned, you know, in a presidential conversation. But there was no clear connection between these events," Prystaiko added.