Trump allies reportedly pressed Ukraine to make changes to the leadership of its massive state gas company

AP

• Several Trump-aligned businessmen and Republican donors reportedly pressured Ukraine to change the leadership of its massive state gas company Naftogaz in order to steer lucrative contracts to companies controlled by Trump allies.
• Sources told Associated Press that US Energy Secretary Rick Perry played a key role in the effort. 
• Trump's ties to Ukraine have come under scrutiny after a whistleblower complaint alleged Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. The complaint has sparked an impeachment inquiry. 
• On Friday, Trump reportedly told a group of Republican lawmakers that it had been Perry who had prompted the phone call with Zelensky in regards to a "liquified natural gas plant."
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As Rudy Giuliani was pushing Ukrainian officials last spring to investigate one of Donald Trump's main political rivals, a group of individuals with ties to the president and his personal lawyer were also active in the former Soviet republic.

Their aims were profit, not politics. This circle of businessmen and Republican donors touted connections to Giuliani and Trump while trying to install new management at the top of Ukraine's massive state gas company. Their plan was to then steer lucrative contracts to companies controlled by Trump allies, according to two people with knowledge of their plans.

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