Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed concerns about holding an election during the ongoing conflict with Russia, stating that it would be detrimental to the nation by causing division among Ukrainians. This comes after the former defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, called for a wartime poll, a move that sparked protests following his dismissal last month. Despite calls for his reinstatement, Fedorov’s suggestion for an election faced criticism due to the challenges posed by the current war situation and the presence of millions of Ukrainians affected by the conflict.
Zelenskyy emphasized that conducting elections during wartime is prohibited by Ukrainian law and highlighted the logistical difficulties and security risks involved, especially with Ukrainian citizens abroad or actively involved in the conflict. He underscored the importance of ending the war and maintaining Ukraine’s sovereignty rather than rushing into elections that could potentially fragment the country.
Recent polls have indicated that while Zelenskyy maintains a stable approval rating, many Ukrainians prefer to postpone elections until after the conflict ceases. Zelenskyy mentioned the possibility of a wartime election if security guarantees were provided by international partners, although no concrete proposals have been made in this regard.
The rift between Zelenskyy and Fedorov was also addressed, with Zelenskyy expressing a positive attitude towards his former ally despite their differences. Fedorov’s dismissal, attributed to disagreements with military leadership, raised questions about future political ambitions, although Fedorov has not confirmed any intention to run in potential future elections.
Additionally, Zelenskyy highlighted the challenges faced with defense spending and cited a miscommunication regarding the use of Starlink technology over Russian territory. He recounted an incident involving inaccurate information provided by the Defense Ministry, which led to a misunderstanding with former U.S. President Donald Trump over the Starlink issue. This situation was among the factors contributing to certain decisions taken by the Ukrainian government.