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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected growing calls for Ukraine to
hold elections while the country remains at war with Russia, warning that a vote
under current conditions could deepen divisions and threaten national stability.
Speaking to journalists during a lengthy meeting in Kyiv, Zelenskyy described
wartime elections as an extremely dangerous step. His comments came after
former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly called for an election, creating
one of the most significant political challenges to Zelenskyy since Russia launched
its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelenskyy argued that Ukraine's immediate priority should be ending the war,
protecting its sovereignty and maintaining national unity rather than beginning an
election campaign while Russian attacks continue.
Zelenskyy Warns That Wartime Elections Could Divide Ukraine
The Ukrainian president said elections held during an active conflict could create
serious political and security risks.
According to remarks released publicly, Zelenskyy described an election at this
stage as a potential "tsunami" for the country, arguing that political competition
could intensify disagreements within Ukrainian society at a moment when unity
remains critical.
Ukraine is operating under martial law, and elections are not currently permitted
under the country's legal framework. Beyond the legal question, officials and
analysts have highlighted major practical difficulties.
Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced by the war. Others are living abroad or
in territories occupied by Russia, while hundreds of thousands of citizens are
serving in the military. Organizing a vote that is secure, transparent and
representative would therefore be an enormous logistical challenge.
Zelenskyy said a wartime election might only become realistic if Ukraine's
international partners could provide credible security guarantees. However, he said
that no detailed plan has been presented that would make such an election safe
and legitimate.
His position is also supported by recent public opinion data. A Kyiv International
Institute of Sociology poll conducted in early August found that 57% of Ukrainians
preferred elections to take place only after active fighting ends.
Former Defense Minister Fedorov Increases Political Pressure
The debate intensified after the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov, a former defense
minister and longtime Zelenskyy ally.
Fedorov had developed a reputation as a technology-focused reformer and was
associated with efforts to expand Ukraine's use of drones, digital systems and
modern military technologies.
His removal from office in July triggered protests in Kyiv and other locations.
Demonstrators initially focused on demands for his reinstatement, but Fedorov
later escalated the political dispute by calling for elections during wartime.
He argued that Ukraine faced a serious governance problem and that democracy
should not be suspended indefinitely because of the Russian invasion.
Fedorov's decision to advocate elections represented a major change in his
relationship with Zelenskyy. Reuters described his appeal as the first major
demand for a wartime election by a prominent Ukrainian political figure since
Russia's full-scale invasion.
However, the election proposal did not receive the same level of public support as
the earlier protests over Fedorov's dismissal.
Reports indicated that demonstrations gradually lost momentum, while public
opinion continued to favor postponing elections until the fighting has ended.
Zelenskyy Explains His Disagreement With Fedorov
Zelenskyy also discussed his relationship with Fedorov in unusually direct terms.
The Ukrainian president said he still had a positive personal attitude toward his
former colleague and acknowledged that they had worked together for years.
Nevertheless, he argued that some of Fedorov's recent political actions were
moving in the wrong direction.
Zelenskyy said he had offered Fedorov several opportunities to remain involved in
government, but the former minister declined them.
The dispute also reflects broader disagreements over how Ukraine should manage
its military leadership during the war.
Fedorov had promoted rapid modernization, technological innovation and
expanded drone capabilities. His approach sometimes placed him at odds with
more traditional military structures and senior commanders.
The resulting political tensions eventually contributed to a major restructuring of
Ukraine's defense leadership.
Ukraine Faces Major Defense Budget Pressure
The election controversy comes as Ukraine continues to face enormous financial
demands caused by the war.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine's Defense Ministry was dealing with a budget gap of
roughly $27 billion after funds originally intended for later in the year were
brought forward to finance urgent military requirements.
The money has been used for priorities including drone production and other
defense needs.
The financial pressure highlights the growing importance of international military
assistance. Ukraine remains heavily dependent on support from the United States
and European allies for weapons, ammunition, air-defense systems and other
military equipment.
Maintaining defense spending has become one of Kyiv's biggest economic
challenges as the conflict enters another year.
Ukraine Struggles to Secure Patriot Missile Supplies
One of Zelenskyy's most serious warnings concerned Ukraine's supply of Patriot
air-defense interceptors.
Patriot systems are among the most important weapons available to Ukraine for
defending major cities and critical infrastructure against Russian ballistic missiles.
Zelenskyy said deliveries have fallen significantly even as Russia has continued
increasing its missile attacks.
He said Ukraine received hundreds of Patriot missiles in previous years but expects
substantially fewer deliveries in 2026. Kyiv wants to obtain additional interceptors
before the winter months, when protecting energy infrastructure and major
population centers becomes especially important.
The shortage is part of a broader challenge facing Western defense industries. The
United States and European countries are attempting to increase production, but
sophisticated air-defense missiles require significant manufacturing capacity and
long production cycles.
For Ukraine, the issue is especially urgent because Russian missile and drone
attacks can target energy facilities, transportation infrastructure, military
installations and civilian areas.
Zelenskyy Discusses a Dispute Involving Starlink
Zelenskyy also referred to an uncomfortable episode involving Starlink and SpaceX
owner Elon Musk.
According to the Ukrainian president, information provided by the Defense Ministry
led him to believe that Ukraine could potentially receive permission to use Starlink
services over Russian territory for certain military operations.
Zelenskyy said he subsequently discussed the matter with U.S. President Donald
Trump.
However, the situation became complicated when Musk reportedly rejected the
proposed arrangement, with concerns about escalation surrounding the use of
satellite communications in Russian territory.
Zelenskyy said the episode demonstrated the consequences that inaccurate or
incomplete information from government departments can have at the highest
diplomatic level.
He did not directly accuse Fedorov of deliberately providing false information, but
indicated that the incident contributed to the tensions surrounding recent
government decisions.
Starlink has played an important role in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's
full-scale invasion, providing communications capabilities that have become
particularly valuable to Ukrainian military units and drone operations.
Ukraine Claims Battlefield Progress
Despite the political and financial difficulties, Zelenskyy presented an optimistic
assessment of Ukraine's battlefield position.
He said Ukrainian forces had nearly restored control over the Dnipropetrovsk
region, with only a small area remaining under Russian control.
The president also suggested that Ukraine could approach a balance between
territory captured by Russia and territory retaken by Ukrainian forces during the
year.
Such battlefield claims remain part of the broader information environment
surrounding the war and can be difficult to independently verify in real time.
Ukraine continues to rely heavily on long-range drones, air defense and Western
military assistance as it attempts to counter Russia's larger military resources.
Russia-Ukraine War Continues to Shape Ukrainian Politics
The debate over elections cannot be separated from the wider Russia-Ukraine
conflict.
For Zelenskyy, the central argument is that holding a national vote during active
warfare could weaken the state at a moment when Russia continues to attack
Ukrainian territory.
The political opposition and figures such as Fedorov, however, argue that
democratic institutions must remain functional even during a prolonged war.
This creates a difficult balance between democratic legitimacy, national security
and practical election requirements.
Any future Ukrainian election would have to address questions involving military
personnel, displaced citizens, refugees abroad and residents of territories
currently occupied by Russia.
It would also require strong security arrangements to protect polling locations from
missile and drone attacks.
International Support Remains Critical
Ukraine's political situation is being closely watched by its international partners.
Nordic and Baltic leaders recently traveled to Kyiv in a demonstration of continued
support as Ukraine prepared to mark its national holidays.
Countries including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway have
remained important supporters of Ukraine's military and financial efforts.
The international community is also focused on the possibility of future peace
negotiations.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly argued that Ukraine needs a settlement that preserves
its independence and sovereignty rather than an agreement imposed under
military pressure.
The future of elections could eventually become part of any broader political
transition following a ceasefire or peace agreement.
What Happens Next for Ukraine?
For now, Zelenskyy's position remains clear: Ukraine should focus on ending the
war before conducting a national election.
Fedorov's election proposal has nevertheless opened a new political debate about
Ukraine's future leadership and the country's democratic system.
The issue could become increasingly important if the war continues for an
extended period.
At the same time, Ukraine must deal with several immediate challenges, including
defense financing, military recruitment, air-defense shortages, Russian missile
attacks and the need for continued Western assistance.
The political controversy surrounding Fedorov demonstrates that maintaining
unity during a prolonged war is becoming increasingly difficult.
Zelenskyy's government must balance demands for democratic accountability with
the realities of national defense.
For millions of Ukrainians, the ultimate question is not simply when elections
should take place, but under what conditions they can be conducted safely, fairly
and legitimately.
Until those conditions exist, Zelenskyy argues that an election could create more
instability than solutions.
The debate is therefore likely to remain an important part of Ukraine's political
landscape, especially as Kyiv continues searching for a path toward peace while
preparing for another difficult period of the Russia-Ukraine war.
