Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Calls for Elections Amid War Conditions

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Feodorov has announced the necessity of organizing elections under wartime conditions, sharply criticizing the country's current governmental system.

Feodorov, considered one of the most popular political figures in Ukraine, released a statement via his YouTube channel directed at the public. He noted that if the war drags on for another one, two, or three years, Russia should not have the power to decide when Ukrainians will again choose their government.

According to the former minister, democracy cannot become a hostage to Russia, as the struggle is fundamentally about remaining a free European state. He emphasized the need to find a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism that would allow Ukraine to restore full democratic processes even during prolonged wartime.

Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated that holding elections under martial law is impossible and directly prohibited by law. President Volodymyr Zelensky reminded that millions of citizens are sheltered in the country's western parts and abroad, while around 20 percent of the territory remains under Russian occupation.

At the same time, conducting elections in Ukraine was one of Moscow's primary demands during negotiations with the new U.S. administration led by Donald Trump.

Feodorov's statement came after Zelensky officially addressed the Verkhovna Rada regarding the appointment of Evgeny Khmara as Ukraine's new defense minister, who took over the responsibilities following Feodorov's resignation.