Volodymyr Zelensky rejects wartime elections following appeal from dismissed defence minister

Rejection of wartime elections

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected proposals to organize presidential elections while the war with Russia continues. Speaking during a weekend press briefing, Zelensky stated that holding a national ballot under current conditions carries unacceptable risks for state stability. He described the prospect of holding immediate elections as a destructive force that would divide the population rather than unify it during ongoing military operations. Zelensky emphasized that his strategic priority remains guiding the state to the end of the war while safeguarding national sovereignty and independence. Ukrainian national elections have been formally suspended since February 2022, when martial law took effect following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

I believe that in such a war, elections themselves pose an enormous risk. Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will divide Ukraine.

Political challenge from Mykhailo Fedorov

The internal debate resurfaced after former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov released a video address urging Ukrainian authorities to create a viable voting mechanism. Zelensky dismissed Fedorov from his cabinet post in July 2026 following a dispute between the defence minister and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The cabinet dismissal prompted street protests in Kyiv, where thousands of demonstrators gathered to demand Fedorov's reinstatement while Fedorov criticized senior military leadership. In his video message, Fedorov argued that prolonged warfare should not block the democratic process, asserting that Ukraine fights specifically to remain an open European democracy.

Democracy cannot be a hostage of Russia.

Fedorov called for the creation of a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism to enable voting during an extended conflict. He acknowledged the complexity of arranging ballots for active military personnel, frontline residents, and displaced citizens living abroad, but argued that complexity should not prevent solutions. He stopped short of declaring a presidential candidacy or naming Zelensky directly as an opponent.

Logistical barriers and security demands

Ukrainian authorities face substantial practical and security obstacles to holding a nationwide vote during active hostilities. Russian forces continue to launch daily missile and drone strikes across Ukrainian territory, creating direct physical hazards for polling stations and public gatherings. Millions of Ukrainian citizens currently reside abroad as refugees, while others remain in Russian-occupied territories or along active frontline combat zones. Zelensky noted that Western partners had previously urged Ukraine to consider organizing elections, yet none offered concrete security arrangements to protect voters from hostile shelling. He reiterated that elections cannot take place until Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a ceasefire.

Legal mandates and polling dynamics

Zelensky assumed office in 2019, and his initial five-year presidential term officially expired in May 2024. Ukrainian constitutional and statutory frameworks prohibit holding presidential or parliamentary votes while martial law remains in force, a measure that retains broad backing among the Ukrainian public. Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had previously urged Kyiv to conduct elections despite the conflict. Domestically, recent opinion polling indicates that Zelensky would trail in hypothetical second-round runoff contests against figures including military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelensky stated that he had previously committed to not seeking another presidential term if the war concluded, maintaining that his present focus remains concluding the conflict.