Zelensky forced to rule out elections as he face an enemy from within

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks made public Sunday that it would be too dangerous for Ukraine to hold an election while fighting Russia, after a call by his former defence minister to organise a vote.

As he fended off the political pressure, Zelensky announced a new drone deal with Norway, as European leaders arrived for talks ahead of a meeting Monday to discuss how to pressure Russia to end its invasion.

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.

The Ukrainian leader has previously faced calls both from Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to stage a vote, even as Moscow rains down missiles and drones across the country on a daily basis.

"I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk," said Zelensky. "Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine.

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"If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war," he added.

He made the comments Saturday in a briefing with journalists, including from AFP.

Ukraine has been engulfed in a political crisis over the summer, triggered when Zelensky fired popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The row forced Zelensky to sack his commander-in-chief.

Thousands took to the streets to demand his reinstatement, while Fedorov issued blistering attacks against the army's top brass.

Then, days ago, the ousted Fedorov made a surprise call to find a way to organise elections.

While he did not explicitly state that he wanted to challenge Zelensky, the shock move made even some of his supporters distance themselves.

They include how soldiers, millions of Ukrainian refugees and people from occupied territories would cast their ballots, as well as the threat of both interference and physical attacks from Russia.

Only 15 per cent of Ukrainians believe elections should be held before the end of hostilities, according to an opinion poll.