Zelensky Says His Ex-Defense Minister Was Wrong to Call for Elections

What the report says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his former defense minister was wrong to suggest holding elections during the war, reiterating his long-standing view that a vote at this stage would fracture Ukraine rather than strengthen it. The New York Times said the remark came in response to a call for elections from the ex-defense minister, whom Zelensky publicly pushed back against.

The exchange centers on a sensitive question in wartime Ukraine: whether the country should try to hold national elections while fighting Russia or wait until conditions are more stable. Zelensky’s position, as described by the Times, is that conducting elections in the middle of the conflict would be divisive and destabilizing. That argument has become a recurring point in Ukrainian politics as the war continues.

The report underscores the tension between democratic procedure and wartime governance. In general, countries under martial or emergency conditions often postpone elections because of security risks, displacement of voters, and challenges to fair campaigning; however, any such broader context is general background rather than a claim specific to this article. The Times’ coverage highlights that the issue remains politically charged in Kyiv and continues to shape debate over Ukraine’s leadership and future timing of a vote.