Fedorov Calls for Wartime Elections, Says Putin Shouldn’t Set the Timeline

Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine must find a way to restore full democratic elections despite the ongoing war, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be the one deciding when Ukrainian citizens can vote. Fedorov made the remarks in a video address posted to his YouTube channel, saying Ukraine needs a “legal, safe, and realistic mechanism” for holding elections during a prolonged conflict, while also safeguarding voting rights for soldiers, Ukrainians living abroad, and residents of frontline regions.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We must not let Putin decide when Ukrainians can choose their government,” Fedorov said, adding that “democracy cannot be a hostage to Russia.” “We are fighting precisely because we want to remain a free European state,” he continued. Pressed for greater government accountability Fedorov also pressed for greater government accountability, arguing that officials holding public authority or funds should be required to transparently show results and explain their decisions publicly. Ukrainians “cannot endlessly live in a state where they do not know why certain decisions are made, why some reforms are moving forward, and others are blocked, why decisions that are needed at the front today go through offices for months,” he said, according to RBC-Ukraine. Legal barriers to wartime voting Ukrainian law currently bars elections under martial law, and only the Verkhovna Rada has the authority to lift that restriction. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine, Belgium Advance Talks on Drone Deal Kyiv and Brussels are negotiating a Drone Deal, as Zelensky praises Belgium’s past support for Ukraine’s air force. According to RBC-Ukraine, the debate over wartime elections gained renewed attention in 2025, after US President Donald Trump argued that democracy “cannot be without elections,” prompting Zelensky to respond that he was open to holding a vote – once the electoral process could be secured and legislation updated. However, any election would require a prior ceasefire with Russia. Throughout the war, Putin has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s democratic legitimacy, weaponizing the fact that Kyiv has not held parliamentary and presidential elections while under martial law. Meanwhile, Fedorov’s remarks come as Russia barred on Aug. 10 its only registered liberal, anti-war party, Yabloko, from the upcoming State Duma parliamentary elections scheduled to be held Sept. 18-19. Fedorov’s departure from the defense ministry Fedorov’s video address came just hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky formally submitted a motion to the Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, nominating Yevhen Khmara as permanent Defense Minister. The confirmation vote is expected as early as Wednesday, Aug. 19. Fedorov’s ouster as defense minister came as part of a broader Cabinet reshuffle on July 15, a move that triggered nationwide protests calling for his reinstatement. The protests continued for weeks, with the last protest reported on Tuesday, when protesters gathered outside the Verkhovna Rada as lawmakers were expected to consider the appointment of a new defense minister. Since his ouster, Fedorov has turned down other government roles offered to him, saying he would accept nothing short of resuming his position as defense minister. At the time of his dismissal, Fedorov cited unresolved tension with military leadership, particularly with former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), who has since publicly apologized to Fedorov. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.