Mykhailo Fedorov calls for wartime elections and warns of Ukraine's slow loss to Russia
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked a national debate by calling for Ukraine to hold elections despite the ongoing war with Russia. While President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that such a move could split the country apart, Mykhailo Fedorov argues that democracy should not be held hostage by the conflict. He recently stated that Ukraine is gradually losing the war due to a lack of overall vision and innovation in military strategy. Mykhailo Fedorov criticized the current government's systemic governance crisis and ingrained corruption, noting that wartime corruption affects the front lines directly. To address these issues, he proposed a plan to develop autonomous drones and cheap interceptor missiles. He also plans to establish a venture fund to attract Western investment into Ukrainian military technology. Although he has not yet committed to a presidential run, his rising popularity has positioned him as a strong potential rival to Zelensky. The administration's response to his calls has been cautious, with the President's Office noting that while elections are a long way off, Mykhailo Fedorov's statements have helped normalize the discussion of democratic processes under martial law.
Sources
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Ukrainians marched for a month to get Mykhailo Fedorov his job back as defense minister. Then he released a video calling for elections, and the crowds stopped coming.
Meduza
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Kremlin says ousted Ukrainian defence minister's remarks show Kyiv is consumed by infighting
Reuters
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Ukraine needs changes to avoid losing war, ousted defense minister says
Defense News
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Why holding elections now may not be the best safeguard for Ukrainian democracy
The Conversation
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Would Wartime Elections Save Democracy or End It?
War on the Rocks