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See the full story · 6 sourcesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) shaking hands with former US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg, in Kyiv on Aug 22.
Listen Summarise President Zelensky says holding elections during the war is too risky and would split Ukraine. Ukraine suspended elections under martial law, with only 15% supporting voting before the conflict ends. Zelensky criticised his former defence minister Fedorov for calling elections and warned against division between society and soldiers. AI generated
KYIV – President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks made public on Aug 23 that it would be too dangerous for Ukraine to hold an election while it fights Russia’s invasion, after a call by his former defence minister to organise a vote.
Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law, a measure still widely supported by the population as the country focuses on fighting off the Russian invasion launched in 2022.
“I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk. Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine,” Zelensky said in the comments.
“If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war,” the 48-year-old leader added.
He held a briefing with a group of journalists, including AFP, on Aug 22, the first in months amid several political crises.
The latest upheaval saw thousands take to the streets after Zelensky fired his defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.
The ousted Fedorov this week made a surprise call to find a way to organise a vote – but without offering a roadmap – and prompting even some of his supporters to distance themselves from him.
Experts have cited a flurry of obstacles, including how soldiers, millions of Ukrainian refugees and people from occupied territories would vote, as well as disinformation threats from Russia.
The election call also came as Ukraine struggles to fend off daily Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other cities.
Only 15 per cent of Ukrainians believe elections should be held before the end of hostilities, according to a poll by the Kyiv Institute of Sociology.
Zelensky made numerous jabs at his opponent during the briefing, which came ahead of events to mark the country’s Independence Day on Aug 24, when several international leaders will be present. Allies are also to hold talks on how to bolster Ukraine’s air defences amid the intense Russian strikes.
“I believe he is going himself – or is being pushed – towards wrong things,” Zelensky said of Fedorov.
The former minister was a prominent backer of the drone warfare strategy that has come to dominate the war with Russia, and had pushed for army reforms. But he clashed with the military’s command and its traditionally stiff approach.
The public initially took his side and pushed for the dismissal of commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky.
Zelensky said people had the right to protest but warned against “disrespectful” attitudes to military people.
“Since when has marketing started to outweigh the people who are giving their lives?” he said.
After a political crisis that had weakened him, Zelensky was able to cast himself as a rampart against division.
“I believe that society and soldiers must not be divided,” he said. “We must acknowledge that there is this risk – that there may be movement in that direction, towards dangerous developments.” AFP
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