Zelensky Warns Against Wartime Elections, Calls for Unity

President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the idea of holding national elections during the ongoing full-scale war, warning that such a move poses a direct threat to Ukraine’s existence and internal stability, Ukrinform reported. Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Aug. 22, Zelensky addressed the recent public debate sparked by former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had called for a mechanism to hold wartime elections.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Elections right now are a tsunami for the state that will split Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “My strategy is to bring the country to the end of the war and preserve an independent and sovereign state. And I am fulfilling it.” The president stated that while Ukraine has faced pressure to hold elections over the past year, no partners have provided concrete proposals on how to conduct them safely and legitimately amid active hostilities, ensuring the participation of frontline soldiers and millions of refugees. He emphasized that holding a vote is impossible under the current security conditions, as Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no genuine interest in a ceasefire. Zelensky also stressed the importance of maintaining internal unity, warning against the creation of “internal borders” or dividing the country into “camps.” While acknowledging that the right to protest is important and demonstrates that freedom exists even during wartime, he cautioned against societal fracturing. Other Topics of Interest Russian Drone Strikes Passenger Train in Odesa Region A Russian jet-powered drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train in the Odesa region, but a timely evacuation ensured all 593 passengers were unharmed. “We can be different, but we must understand and focus on the main thing. And the main thing is to preserve Ukraine,” Zelensky said, specifically noting that dividing civil society from the military is a dangerous risk that could lead to “dangerous events.” Frontline gains and potential offensives During the briefing, Zelensky provided an update on the battlefield, noting that Ukrainian forces have almost entirely liberated the Dnipropetrovsk region. Following a report from Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, Zelensky stated that only three small villages – amounting to 10 square kilometers – remain under occupation, and Russian forces are practically absent from those areas. He also indicated that Ukraine aims to reach parity in lost and regained territory by the end of 2026. Currently, Russia has occupied 990 square kilometers this year, while Ukraine has regained 820 square kilometers. Another localized operation is expected to conclude by the end of August, he added. However, Zelensky warned that the threat from Russia remains fluid. While Putin’s immediate deadline for his generals is to capture the remainder of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions – targeting Kostiantynivka and Sloviansk – by the end of the year, a success there could lead to a shift in forces. Zelensky suggested that if Russia achieves its eastern objectives, Moscow could redirect its 300,000 mobilized troops toward other areas, including a theoretical offensive from Russia’s Bryansk region toward Ukraine’s Chernihiv and Kyiv regions. While no Russian troops are currently amassed in Bryansk, Ukrainian intelligence is monitoring military equipment stationed along the border. Negotiations and security guarantees Zelensky also addressed potential future peace negotiations, specifically mentioning efforts by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, allies of former US President Donald Trump, to find a diplomatic off-ramp. “In my opinion, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner very much want to bring victory to [US] President Trump. And they want to find a format for negotiations with the Russians,” Zelensky said. However, he noted that finding a workable format is incredibly difficult because Moscow’s absolute demand is that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the east. He stated that Russia is indifferent to its own casualty numbers or the time required to achieve this goal. In this context, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine requires ironclad security guarantees to prevent future aggression, stating that NATO membership is the only viable option, as the alliance has never faced a full-scale attack. Zelensky noted that these ideas are a joint effort and that all parties have reacted positively thus far, though further proposals from the US side are expected. He stated that a “corridor of opportunity” for diplomacy exists from the upcoming G20 summit until late summer 2027, just prior to the next US presidential election cycle. Additionally, Zelensky stated that Ukraine is open to sector-specific agreements, specifically offering to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure if Russia agrees to stop attacking Ukrainian energy and agricultural facilities. He noted, however, that Russia has not yet demonstrated a willingness to agree to such terms. Deep strikes and the defense budget The president confirmed that Ukraine is facing a financial hurdle, with the Ministry of Defense currently operating with a $27 billion budget deficit. He explained that funds originally earmarked for the second half of the year were spent early to accelerate domestic drone production. Kyiv is currently working with European partners, particularly France and Germany, to expedite the release of a planned €30 billion in European funds to cover the shortfall and secure the $8-10 billion necessary to begin procuring weapons for 2027. Addressing Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign, Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has been running an 18-month campaign known as Operation “Kylym” (Carpet), designed to force Russian military airports to halt operations. He also denied rumors that Ukraine targets civilian aircraft, stating, “We are not terrorists.” Zelensky addressed the recent strikes on Russian logistics infrastructure, including the e-commerce giant Wildberries, describing them as calculated retaliation for Russia’s years-long targeting of Ukrainian logistics companies like Ukrposhta and Nova Poshta. Zelensky noted that the strike on Wildberries alone caused approximately 1 trillion rubles ($12.5 billion) in direct damages, with total associated economic losses for Russia potentially reaching 3 trillion rubles ($36.3 billion). He argued that these strikes, combined with internal Russian polling showing 60% of the population wants the war to end, are deeply damaging to Putin. Zelensky claimed that Putin’s recent escalation is a desperate attempt to retain the support of his radical, pro-war base as his broader public approval ratings continue to decline.