Sondland says he was "never able to obtain a clear answer" about why Ukraine aid was withheld U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland said Wednesday he was first informed that the White House was withholding security aid to Ukraine on July 18 and that he was "never able to obtain a clear answer regarding the specific reason for the hold -- whether it was bureaucratic in nature ... or reflected some other concern." He said he concluded that the aid "was jeopardized."