18th, an omb representative relayed that the white house chief of staff has conveyed that the president has concerns about ukraine and ukraine security assistance, unquote. and that a hold had been ordered by the president. no explanation was provided. all of the agencies responsible for ukraine policy supported security assistance and advocates for lifting of the hold. the only dissenting voice was the office of management and budget which was following the orders of president trump and still no good explanation of the hold was provided. while the aid suspension had not been made public word was getting out. catherine croft special adviser for ukraine negotiations worked with ambassador volker and received two separate calls in july or august from officials at the ukraine embassy who quote, approached me quietly and in confidence to ask me about an omb hold on ukraine security