Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that conducting an election during the ongoing conflict with Russia would be detrimental to the country, potentially leading to division among Ukrainians. His statement, made public on Sunday, marked his first response to former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s recent call for a wartime poll.
The sudden removal of Fedorov last month triggered widespread protests, with some supporters initially advocating for his reinstatement but later hesitating to support his election proposal. Zelenskyy emphasized that holding elections during a war is prohibited by Ukrainian law due to security challenges and the significant number of Ukrainians affected by the conflict.
Although Zelenskyy’s approval rating has remained relatively steady at around 60 percent, recent polls indicate that most Ukrainians prefer to delay elections until after the fighting ceases. The president mentioned the possibility of a wartime election if security guarantees were provided by Kyiv’s partners, but he noted that no such plan has been presented.
Zelenskyy expressed his desire to end the war and safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of preserving a unified state. He also addressed the rift with Fedorov, acknowledging their shared history but suggesting that the former defense minister may have been influenced into making misguided decisions.
Fedorov, recognized for modernizing Ukraine’s military capabilities and promoting technological advancements like drone warfare, was removed from his position following reported conflicts with top military officials. Zelenskyy reflected on the challenges he faced due to inaccurate information provided by the Defense Ministry, particularly in relation to a conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the use of Starlink technology over Russian territory.
The Ukrainian president recounted a series of events where conflicting information led to misunderstandings with Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, ultimately resulting in accusations of deception. While Zelenskyy did not directly accuse Fedorov of dishonesty, he highlighted the incident as a contributing factor to certain decisions made within the government.
