Zelensky Warns Wartime Elections Could Destroy Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that holding elections while Russia’s war against the country is ongoing would “destroy” Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters, he argued that elections during fighting would split the state. “If we want to destroy the country, then we can move towards elections during this kind of war”, Zelensky said, adding that a vote at this time would act as a “tsunami” for state institutions.

Strategy Focused On Ending The War

Zelensky said his approach is to steer Ukraine towards an end to the war and to safeguard an independent, sovereign state. He also said elections carry major risks and should not be held while the conflict continues.

Law Bars Votes During Wartime

Ukrainian law forbids the country from holding elections during wartime. In polling released earlier this month by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 57% of Ukrainians said they want elections after the war ends.

Fedorov Calls For a Wartime Poll

Zelensky’s remarks followed calls from his ousted former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, who urged Ukraine to hold a wartime vote in an address last week, NBC News reported. Zelensky said he believed some of Fedorov’s actions were misguided.

“I really had and still have a very positive attitude toward Mykhailo,” Zelensky told reporters. He said Fedorov, or people around him, were “pushed into the wrong things”.

RELATED

Ukraine Ex-Defence Minister Calls For Wartime Elections

Zelensky also appeared to link Fedorov to a meeting involving Starlink and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk. He said Fedorov told him that SpaceX had agreed to let Ukraine use Starlink on Russian territory. Zelensky said he raised the matter with President Donald Trump and later told reporters that Musk rejected the plan, accusing Zelensky of misleading Trump. Zelensky said the episode was among the factors behind “some of the steps” that led to Fedorov leaving his post.

Fedorov has increasingly positioned himself as a rival to Zelensky. Politico reported that on Tuesday he told Ukrainians they could not “endlessly” live in a state where they do not understand why decisions are made.

Debate Over Corruption and Democracy

In a Sunday interview with the BBC, Fedorov said Zelensky has “questions to answer” about corruption within the government. He also argued that Ukrainian elections should not be “the hostage of” Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying: “If I cannot share my ideas and be open about them with my own society, then what are we fighting for?”

Zelensky was first elected in 2019 after defeating incumbent President Petro Poroshenko in a landslide victory. Before entering politics, he was a comedian and television personality.

He previously said Ukraine was ready for elections after Trump made similar comments. In December, after a phone call with Trump, Zelensky told US reporters: “I am ready for elections... I personally have the will and readiness to do this.”

Join the discussion?

25 August 2026