was a part of ukraine or a part of russia. that is a tremendous sensitive issue in ukraine. recollection is that was the ambassador was writing about. >> do you know what the ambassador anyone from the embassy tried to make contact with the trump campaign to talk about their concerns before lodging an op-ed? >> i don't know. >> during the same time. of the run-up to the the election, the minister avakov had sent some especially candid things about the then-candidate trump on some very cynical media platforms. are you aware of that? >> yes, as a result of the previous deposition. >> but during the relevant time period when it was happening, you are not aware of that? >> you know, i don't recall it. >> he is one of the more