Zelenskyy rejects plea for wartime presidential election

A long-time political ally of the Ukrainian president  — who was recently dumped as defence minister — is the first prominent Ukrainian political figure to call for an election since Russia's invasion began in 2022.

President says wartime vote would ‘split Ukraine apart’ as he seeks to reassert authority

The Ukrainian president says wartime elections, as called for by the ex-defense minister, could "split Ukraine." He also said Russia was planning to mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops after September polls there.

After Ukraine's fired defense minister publicly called for wartime elections, Zelenskyy said it would risk splitting the country.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky Alamy Stock Photo Ukraine Zelenskyy said a vote would “split” Ukraine. PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY has said in remarks made public today that it would be too dangerous for Ukraine to hold an election while it fights Russia’s invasion, after a call by his former defence minister