Nearly 300 former US national security and foreign policy officials have signed a statement warning that Donald Trump‘s actions regarding Ukraine are a “profound national security concern” and supporting an impeachment inquiry by congress to determine “the facts”.

“To be clear, we do not wish to prejudge the totality of the facts or congress’ deliberative process,” said the statement, which was released Friday.

“At the same time, there is no escaping that what we already know is serious enough to merit impeachment proceedings.”

The collection of signatures was set in motion by National Security Action, an organisation founded and largely populated by officials from the Obama administration to call attention to Mr Trump’s “reckless leadership”.

Many of the signers are former Obama officials. But the list includes others who served as career officials in both Democratic and Republican administrations, including Matthew Olsen, head of the Justice Department’s national security division during George W Bush‘s presidency and director of the National Counterterrorism Centre during Barack Obama‘s presidency.

20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Show all 20 1 /20 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit An awkward greeting As the Queen welcomed Trump to Buckingham Palace, he shared an awkward handshake with her. PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit "Oi Trump" Essex teenager Ollie Nancarrow mowed this message to Trump in a field near Stansted airport, in order that the president would be forced to see it as he came in to land. BornEco 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit A warm welcome Protesters gesture at the helicopter carrying the president as he arrives at Buckingham Palace on the first day of his visit. Getty 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Inspecting the guard After arriving at Buckingham Palace, President Trump inspected an honour guard with Prince Charles. AP 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Khan hits back After the president insulted Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, over Twitter as he landed in Britain, Khan hit back in this video released by Elle. PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Mild reception on the Mall The Mall, the road leading to Buckingham Palace, was lacking in pomp as Trump arrived after his visit to Westminster Abbey, only a very small crowd turned out to see the spectacle. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Toast with the Queen The president shared a toast with the Queen at the state banquet on his first night in Britain. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Creepy kids This picture of Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner, shared to Ivanka's Instagram, was described variously as "terrifying", like "nightmares" and "scarier than the shining." Getty 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Rolling out the red carpet A red carpet was rolled out for the president's arrival to 10 Downing Street. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Meeting with May President Trump met with Prime Minister Theresa May on the second day of his visit. They did not speak privately but in a boardroom meeting. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Spouses get along First Lady Melania Trump and husband of the prime minister Philip May attended a garden party for the families of Downing Street staff while the two leaders were in their meeting. Getty 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Baby blimp flies again The famous Trump baby blimp made a return in the protests against the president's visit, after first appearing in July last year. EPA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Crowd gathers A large crowd of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square in London to protest the president's visit. Notable protesters included a man selling Donald Trump toilet paper and a man dressed as Vladimir Putin controlling a Trump puppet. PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Protesters mix and mingle Supporters of the president and protesters of his visit clashed by Parliament Square on the second day of Trump's visit, with some supporters being hit by milkshakes. Reuters 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Toilet Trump A 20ft statue of Trump tweeting while sitting on a golden toilet was placed in Trafalgar Square as protesters gather on the second day of the president's visit. Tom Batchelor / The Independent 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Corbyn speaks In an address to protesters, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the president of spreading "hatred" and "racism" and expressed disappointment that Sadiq Khan had "been attacked in the way he was." PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Churchill hat During his interview with the president on Good Morning Britain, Piers Morgan gave Trump a hat of a style favoured by Winston Churchill, one of Trump's heroes. ITV 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Bus stop baby Activists Special Patrol Group installed this poster in to several bus stops around Portsmouth ahead of the president's arrival for D-Day commemorations PA 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Fly-past with the queen President Trump watched the Red Arrows fly-past with the Queen at an event in Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings AFP/Getty 20 pictures that sum up President Trump's visit Commemoration speech The president gave a speech at an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Along with Trump, the prime minister and the royal family, French president Emmanuel Macron and 300 Second World War veterans were in attendance. AFP/Getty

Career diplomats also include William Burns, former assistant secretary of state for near east affairs, undersecretary for policy and ambassador to Russia under Mr Bush, and deputy secretary under Mr Obama; Nancy McEldowney, former Bush ambassador to Bulgaria and deputy chief of mission to Turkey; and Jeffrey Feltman, who served in senior State Department positions beginning in the George HW Bush administration and for nearly six years as undersecretary general at the United Nations until his 2018 retirement.

“As national security professionals, many of us have long been concerned with President Trump’s actions and their implications for our safety and security,” the statement said.

“Some of us have spoken out, but many of us have eschewed politics throughout our careers and, as a result, have not weighed in publicly.

“The revelations of recent days, however, demand a response,” it said. “President Trump appears to have leveraged the authority and resources of the highest office in the land to invite additional foreign interference into our democratic processes.”

The statement continued: “If we fail to speak up – and act – now our foreign policy and national security will officially be on offer to those who can most effectively fulfil the President’s personal prerogatives.”