Zelensky has rejected calls from the former defense minister advocating for elections during wartime, stating that doing so risks causing division within the country.
Foreign news agencies reported on Sunday, 23 Aug 2026 GMT+7, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the calls from Mykhailo Fedorov, the former defense minister whom he had removed from office, for holding elections amid the war, citing the risk of internal division.
Zelensky strongly criticized Fedorov's demands, describing them as impractical given that Russia appears uninterested in a ceasefire and is rapidly stockpiling cruise missiles to attack Ukraine during the winter season.
“I believe that if we wanted to destroy the country, we could proceed with elections during wartime like this,” Zelensky told reporters on Saturday, with details only emerging on Sunday.
“I believe that holding general elections during such a war is a major risk. Elections now would be like a political tsunami for the country, causing Ukraine to divide,” Zelensky said, adding that his plan is to end the war and preserve Ukraine’s independence.
Elections in Ukraine have been suspended since martial law was declared after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelensky’s five-year term ended in May 2024, but Ukrainians have shown little desire to hold new elections amid the war until recently.
The situation shifted when Fedorov, a highly popular defense minister among Ukrainians, was dismissed by Zelensky in July following conflicts with General Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief.
The dismissal order sparked major protests against Zelensky’s decision. Although General Syrsky insisted he had no issues with Fedorov, the Ukrainian leader ultimately removed him too, reportedly to ease public dissatisfaction.
Relations between Zelensky and Fedorov reached a breaking point after his dismissal, and Fedorov’s calls for new elections represent the most open domestic challenge to Zelensky’s authority since Russia’s invasion began.
Zelensky affirmed that if Ukraine’s allies can establish "specific conditions" to ensure elections are safe, fair, and democratic, he is ready to support them.
These conditions include enabling frontline soldiers and millions of Ukrainians who fled abroad due to the war to participate in voting, with ballots cast safely without attacks or bombardments—conditions that are practically impossible to meet currently.
Zelensky reiterated that Fedorov was dismissed for interfering in military operations by trying to control army missions. However, he emphasized, “I have always had and still have very good feelings toward Mykhailo. We have been through a lot together, but I believe he either chose or was pushed into the wrong path.”
The Ukrainian leader also revealed that Russia has approximately 600–630 high-speed cruise missiles in its arsenal and is accelerating production by over 100 per month to prepare for attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure during winter, while Ukraine faces severe shortages of interceptor missiles.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:The Guardian