A ‘Tsunami’ for Ukraine: Zelensky Rejects Wartime Elections

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky waits for international guests at the Nordic-Baltic Eight summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Aug.

23, 2026. —Tetiana Dzhafarova—AFP/Getty Images Volodymyr Zelensky may be under pressure to hold elections in Ukraine, including from his former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov , but in remarks over the weekend, the Ukrainian President argued that doing so during the ongoing conflict with Russia would “destroy” the country.

“I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk,” Zelensky said in remarks to journalists during a two-hour meeting Saturday—parts of which were made public on Sunday.

“Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine.” Read More: Zelensky Faces Pressure to Hold Elections.

What Stands in the Way? The renewed push for wartime elections was bolstered by Fedorov, who, in a video posted to social media last week, argued that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia.” Zelensky fired Fedorov, once his longtime ally, in July over disagreements in how to run the war with Russia.

“I believe that if we want to destroy the country, then during such a war we can move towards elections,” Zelensky said.

Fedorov’s call for elections is the latest leadership test for Zelensky, whose five-year term expired in May 2024 but continues under wartime rules.

Elections are suspended under martial law.

Zelensky recently fired a top aide amid a growing corruption scandal involving members of his office.

Zelensky himself has not been implicated, but it has added to his political woes.

For the first time with journalists, Zelensky addressed the ongoing controversy involving Fedorov on Saturday, claiming that the former defense minister’s actions were misguided.

Zelensky added that “there can be no conflict at such a level between leaders,” referring to Fedorov's conflict with the former Armed Forces commander-in-chief Gen.

Oleksandr Syrsky.

Zelensky also replaced Syrsky last month after Fedorov’s removal spurred massive protests within the military and on the streets of Kyiv.