{
  "id": 2758615,
  "title": "Zelensky rejects wartime elections, says would ‘split’ Ukraine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/zelensky-rejects-wartime-elections-says-would-split-ukraine",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T09:00:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/23/zelensky-rejects-wartime-elections-says-would-split-ukraine"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of wartime elections, stating that they would divide the nation. This came after his former defense minister called for the organization of a vote amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Zelensky warned that elections during wartime would be a \"tsunami\" for Ukraine and risk splitting the country. The President made these remarks in an interview with journalists, following his briefing on Saturday. The decision to suspend elections under martial law was widely supported by Ukraine's population as they concentrate on defending their territory against Russian forces. Zelensky acknowledged the risk of war-related elections but stressed the importance of uniting the society and the military.",
  "summary": "Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law, a measure still widely supported by the population as the country focuses on fighting off Russian forces.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Zelensky, former Trump envoy Kellogg discuss Ukraine's air defense needs during visit to Kyiv",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/zelensky-former-trump-envoy-kellogg-discuss-ukraines-air-defense",
        "published": "2026-08-23T01:20:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda arrives in Kyiv ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/lithuanian-president-gitanas-nauseda-arrives-in-kyiv-ahead-of",
        "published": "2026-08-23T06:14:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Zelensky says wartime elections would 'split' Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/zelensky-says-wartime-elections-would-split-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-08-23T08:17:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics",
        "title": "Ukraine continues talks on using Starlink in Russia for long-range drones – Zelensky",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/ukraine-continues-talks-on-using-starlink-in-russia-for-long-range",
        "published": "2026-08-23T08:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ERR News Estonia",
        "title": "Prime minister in Kyiv: Russia shouldn't count on us tiring of Ukraine support",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/prime-minister-in-kyiv-russia-shouldnt-count-on-us-tiring-of-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-08-23T08:50:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Zelensky rejects wartime elections, says would ‘split’ Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/zelensky-rejects-wartime-elections-says-would-split-ukraine-2759384",
        "published": "2026-08-23T09:00:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Ukraine: Zelensky asks for more Patriot interceptors as civilian deaths hit highest level since 2022",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/ukraine-zelensky-asks-for-more-patriot-interceptors-as-civilian",
        "published": "2026-08-23T09:05:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}