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UkrainePublished: 23 August 2026 at 15:39

Zelenskyy warns wartime elections could 'destroy' Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply criticized a proposal to hold elections during wartime, warning it could split the country at a critical moment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly condemned the idea of holding elections while the country remains at war with Russia, warning that such a step could "destroy" Ukraine under current conditions.

His criticism was directed at a proposal put forward by Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelenskyy described the idea as a "tsunami" capable of "splitting" Ukraine, stressing that pushing ahead with an election process now could trigger dangerous internal polarization.

Concerns over national unity

Zelenskyy argued that Ukraine currently needs maximum unity to withstand external aggression, and that any political competition at this moment risks diverting attention from defense priorities. His comments suggest he views premature elections as a direct threat to the country's stability.

The remarks highlight an ongoing debate in Ukraine over whether and when the electoral process, suspended since the start of the war, should resume. Zelenskyy has previously indicated that elections could only take place after the war ends, though some political figures have floated the possibility of holding them sooner.

The source material does not provide further details on the specifics of Fedorov's proposal, but Zelenskyy's sharp response suggests it is being seen as a serious challenge to the prevailing position that elections should be postponed while martial law remains in effect.

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