Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Sunday that holding national elections while active combat with Russia continues would risk destroying the country. In comments released to reporters, Zelenskiy argued that a wartime vote would cause internal division and that his current strategy is focused on ending the conflict while maintaining Ukrainian sovereignty.
The President's remarks follow a call for wartime elections by former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov last week. Fedorov, who was dismissed from his post last month, is the first major political figure in Ukraine to publicly demand a vote since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. While Fedorov was previously considered a close ally of the president, his dismissal sparked protests, though Reuters reports that some of his supporters did not favor his call for an immediate election.
Under current Ukrainian law, elections are prohibited during a state of war. Analysts cited in the report noted that logistical challenges, including the displacement of millions of citizens abroad, those living under Russian occupation, and personnel serving at the front lines, would make a fair vote difficult to execute. Zelenskiy indicated he might consider an election if international partners could provide security guarantees, but noted that no such plan has been proposed.
The scale of this political tension is reflected in President Zelenskiy's stable but shifting approval rating, which remains around 60%. For international stakeholders and aid organizations, the decision to hold or delay elections impacts the perceived legitimacy of the Ukrainian government and its long-term policy stability. If elections were to proceed, the government would have to manage the security of thousands of polling stations under threat of aerial bombardment, a task for which Zelenskiy states there is currently no funded or viable plan from international partners.
The next steps in this process remain tied to the duration of the war and the legal status of martial law. Unless the Ukrainian parliament amends the laws prohibiting wartime voting, no election dates can be set. Observers will be watching for any formal proposals from Kyiv's partners regarding security guarantees, as Zelenskiy left that as the only hypothetical opening for a vote. In the meantime, the dismissal of Fedorov and his subsequent political calls indicate an emerging internal debate regarding the country's governance as the conflict continues into 2026.