Zelenskyy rejects plea for wartime presidential election
A long-time political ally of the Ukrainian president — who was recently dumped as defence minister — is the first prominent Ukrainian political figure to call for an election since Russia's invasion began in 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected calls for a wartime presidential election, arguing that such an event would "destroy" the country by exacerbating divisions among its people. Mykhailo Fedorov, a longtime political ally of Zelenskyy, was the first prominent Ukrainian figure to advocate for an election in light of Russia's ongoing invasion.
Fedorov's dismissal last month triggered widespread protests, but subsequent calls for his reinstatement were met with opposition. The president maintains that holding an election during wartime would violate Ukrainian law and pose significant security risks, given the millions of Ukrainians living abroad under Russian occupation or fighting on the front lines.
Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine's growing shortage of Patriot air defence missiles, despite battlefield gains in the Dnipropetrovsk region. He acknowledged that while Ukrainians desire a change in leadership, there is currently little appetite for voting amid the ongoing conflict. A recent poll found that 57% of Ukrainians favor elections only after the fighting concludes.
Zelenskyy emphasized that elections might only be feasible if Kyiv's partners can guarantee security, but no such plans have been proposed. The president remains committed to steering Ukraine towards a peaceful resolution and preserving its independence and sovereignty.
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