President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine warned that holding an election during the ongoing conflict with Russia would be detrimental to the country, potentially leading to division among Ukrainians. Zelenskyy’s remarks, made public on Sunday, marked his first response to the recent call for a wartime poll by ousted former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov’s sudden dismissal last month triggered widespread protests, with some supporters initially advocating for his reinstatement but later hesitating to support his election proposal, a significant move by a prominent Ukrainian political figure since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Zelenskyy emphasized that conducting elections during wartime is prohibited by Ukrainian law. He added that security concerns and the challenges posed by the presence of millions of Ukrainians abroad, either under Russian occupation or engaged in frontline combat, would make it impractical to hold an election under the current circumstances.
The Ukrainian president highlighted the importance of ending the conflict and maintaining the country’s independence and sovereignty. Zelenskyy acknowledged the rift with Fedorov, expressing a positive sentiment towards his former ally despite their disagreements. Fedorov, known for his efforts to modernize Ukraine’s armed forces and promote technological advancements like drone warfare, was relieved of his duties following reported disagreements with top military officials.
Regarding his interactions with the U.S., Zelenskyy mentioned discrepancies in defense spending information provided by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, which led to a misunderstanding with former President Donald Trump over the potential use of Starlink technology in Russia. Zelenskyy clarified that inaccurate details from the ministry resulted in a miscommunication with Musk’s SpaceX, causing Trump to believe that Ukraine had misled him about Starlink usage permissions over Russian territory. This incident was cited as one of the factors influencing subsequent decisions taken by the Ukrainian government.
Zelenskyy’s statements emphasized the need to resolve the conflict, avoid further divisions within Ukraine, and prioritize the nation’s stability and sovereignty.