Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out holding elections while the war with Russia continues, warning that a vote would act like a tsunami and divide the country. He was responding to a controversial call from his former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, for an election to be held.
Zelensky said that in a war like this one, elections by themselves represent an enormous risk. He said that if the goal were to destroy the country, then Ukraine could go ahead with elections at a time like this, but that doing so was impossible under current conditions, since Russian President Vladimir Putin was not willing to consider options for a ceasefire.
He said organising an election would mean overcoming a series of obstacles, including collecting votes from soldiers deployed on the battlefield, reaching the millions of Ukrainian refugees living abroad, and accounting for Ukrainians living in territories occupied by Moscow.
Fedorov's Call for a Vote
The push for elections from Fedorov unsettled even some of his own supporters. Fedorov said Ukrainians should not be afraid to discuss the issue, arguing that open debate is what democracy is about. He asked why Ukraine was fighting at all if he could not share his ideas and be transparent with his own society. He argued that democracy should not be held hostage by Putin.
Who Is Mykhailo Fedorov
Fedorov was a pioneer in Ukraine's use of drones in the war against Russia. He was replaced as defence minister last month, apparently over disagreements with the head of Ukraine's armed forces. His removal triggered protests that drew thousands of people in several Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine has operated under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, a status that has kept national elections suspended throughout the conflict.
Democracy in Wartime
Fedorov warned that if elections were never held, Ukraine would cease to be a democracy. His comments came as Zelensky continues to face pressure on multiple fronts, including from the Ukrainian parliament over reforms tied to European Union funding and from ongoing scrutiny of corruption allegations within his government.
