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 kept Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE updated on the White House’s pressure campaign against Ukraine, The New York Times reported early Wednesday.

Sondland, who is set to testify later in the day in the House impeachment inquiry into President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE's dealings with Kyiv, in mid-August shared a draft statement with Pompeo intended to convince the president to meet with newly elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, two people briefed told the Times.

The ambassador also reportedly talked with Pompeo about encouraging Zelensky to vow during a meeting between the leaders in Poland to take actions desired by Trump in order to improve U.S.-Ukraine relations. Pompeo reportedly approved this plan, but Trump later canceled his trip to Poland.

ADVERTISEMENT

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The impeachment inquiry began after a whistleblower complaint about a phone call in which Trump asked Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE days after U.S. military aid to Ukraine was withheld.

The ambassador changed his testimony earlier this month to say there was a clear quid pro quo in the exchange of military aid for an investigation into Biden, a leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.

Sondland is expected to face questioning about diplomat David Holmes's testimony, who indicated the ambassador did not tell House investigators about a phone call between him and Trump on July 26. Holmes testified Trump asked Sondland in this call if Zelensky committed to examining Biden.

The diplomat also told House investigators that Sondland told him that Trump was only interested in "big stuff" involving Ukraine like the "Biden investigation."

Sondland and former special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker Kurt VolkerGOP senators request details on Hunter Biden's travel for probe Yovanovitch retires from State Department: reports Live coverage: Senators enter second day of questions in impeachment trial MORE previously testified that in August, in order to satisfy the president, they worked with Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak on the probe into Biden and Burisma Holdings, the company whose board included Biden's son Hunter.