{
  "id": 2784205,
  "title": "Zelenskyy: Elections would ‘tear Ukraine apart’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/zelenskyy-elections-would-tear-ukraine-apart",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-23T11:50:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-elections-would-tear-ukraine-apart/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly dismissed a proposal by his former defense chief, Mykhailo Fedorov, to hold national elections amid the ongoing war. In a private briefing with journalists, Zelenskyy expressed his belief that elections during wartime pose significant risks and could \"tear Ukraine apart.\" The Ukrainian leader insisted that his priority is to see his nation through the war and safeguard its independence.\n\nFedorov, who was sacked from his defense minister position in July following a controversial reshuffle, had called for elections earlier this week. He argued that organizing a safe, legitimate, and democratic vote in Ukraine, including participation from soldiers on the front lines and citizens who fled the country, requires specific conditions that are currently unattainable. Zelenskyy asserted that these conditions are impossible to meet as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to consider any options for a ceasefire.\n\nFedorov's call for elections has been met with criticism from both Zelenskyy's supporters and opposition figures. Organizing elections, which are currently suspended under Ukraine's martial law since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, would likely bolster the Kremlin's stance and exacerbate divisions within the country. Fedorov has continued to push the issue, maintaining that he has a \"moral right\" to raise the subject of elections and expressing his desire to share his thoughts with his fellow Ukrainians.",
  "summary": "The Ukrainian president argues that holding a vote today would only play into Vladimir Putin's hands.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}