Conflict & Security
Ukraine elections would split country, Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said holding elections while Ukraine is fighting Russia would be too dangerous and could split the country, rejecting former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov's call to find a way to organise a vote.
“I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk,” Zelensky said in remarks made public Sunday after a Saturday briefing with journalists. “Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine.”
Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law while it fights Russia's invasion, launched in 2022. Zelensky said elections during the war could destroy the country.
Fedorov, who was dismissed as defence minister, recently called for Ukraine to find a way to hold elections. He did not explicitly say he wanted to challenge Zelensky. His team confirmed to AFP on Sunday that he plans to visit the United States soon, a trip likely to revive speculation over whether he is positioning himself as a rival.
Kyiv has faced a political crisis over the summer after Zelensky fired Fedorov. Thousands protested to demand his reinstatement, and Fedorov criticised the army's top command. The dispute led Zelensky to sack his commander-in-chief.
Experts have cited major obstacles to a wartime election, including how soldiers, millions of Ukrainian refugees and people in occupied territories would vote, as well as the risk of interference and physical attacks from Russia. An opinion poll found that 15% of Ukrainians believe elections should be held before hostilities end.
During meetings with Nordic and Baltic leaders in Kyiv on Sunday, Zelensky announced a drone deal with Norway that he said would strengthen cooperation between the countries' defence sectors. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told reporters that Norway had pledged $9 billion to Kyiv for next year.
Ukraine's European backers are due to meet on Monday to discuss Ukraine's military problems and ways to pressure Russia to end its invasion. Zelensky said deliveries of interceptor missiles for US Patriot air defence systems had halved since 2023 as Moscow increased strikes using ballistic missiles.
Update
Zelensky announced a drone cooperation deal with Norway during meetings with Nordic and Baltic leaders in Kyiv.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway had pledged $9 billion to Kyiv for next year.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 August 2026 at 20:06:35 UTC.
Update
Zelensky said Ukraine received 675 Patriot interceptor missiles in 2023, 364 in 2025 and was projected to receive 264 in 2026.
Zelensky said Ukraine was seeking a package of 300 Patriot missiles for the coming winter.
Fedorov's team confirmed to AFP that he plans to visit the United States soon.
Ukraine is due to host European allies on Monday to discuss pressure on Russia to end its invasion.
The source adds that Zelensky fired Fedorov over the summer and later sacked his commander-in-chief during the political crisis.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 August 2026 at 11:08:35 UTC.
Update
Zelensky said wartime elections would be a “huge risk” and compared them to a “tsunami” that would split Ukraine.
Zelensky said former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov was moving, or being pushed, toward “wrong things”.
Zelensky said Ukrainians had the right to protest but warned against disrespectful attitudes toward military personnel.
The item says Fedorov’s call for a wartime vote did not include a roadmap and prompted some supporters to distance themselves.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 August 2026 at 08:41:36 UTC.
Update
Volodymyr Zelensky rejected holding elections during the war and said they would “split” Ukraine.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 August 2026 at 08:07:22 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Fedorov has not explicitly said whether he intends to challenge Zelensky.
The practical path for holding elections during the war remains unresolved.
Figures on Patriot missile deliveries are based on Zelensky's statements.
Source
AFP news report published on .