Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for presidential elections to be held in Ukraine, warning that the country is suffering from a systemic crisis of governance.
In a video address published online, Fedorov said Ukraine must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism to restore full democratic processes even while fighting a prolonged war against Russia.
Former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba backed calls for fresh elections, stating that Ukraine requires both parliamentary and presidential votes. Kuleba said a new parliamentary coalition should be formed before the conflict with Russia ends to restore constitutional balance, with presidential elections taking place immediately after fighting stops.
Systemic governance crisis and corruption
In his video statement, Fedorov said Ukraine faces numerous problems, including widespread corruption. However, he noted that corruption is merely a symptom of a deeper systemic failure in governance.
The former defence minister said the established state apparatus operates by its own rules to protect itself and avoid changes, resulting in sluggish decision making. He also criticized the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, stating that legislative governance must not be built on private interests.
Fedorov stated that citizens often do not understand why authorities make specific decisions or why certain reforms move forward while others are blocked. He said Ukrainians cannot live under such conditions indefinitely and argued that the population is ready for a different country.
According to the former minister, the time has come for elections where officials present what they have achieved and citizens decide whether to grant them continued trust. While acknowledging that conducting elections during wartime presents major difficulties, Fedorov insisted that the task remains achievable.
He said authorities must guarantee voting rights for military personnel, millions of Ukrainians living abroad, and residents in frontline regions. He added that the state must ensure the security of the electoral process, the independence of public institutions and full public trust in the result.
Fedorov served as Ukraine's defence minister until his dismissal by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who previously removed him from office. The Verkhovna Rada serves as Ukraine's unicameral national parliament, while the Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, functions as the primary state security agency.
Political confrontation and presidential challenge
Ukrainian news outlet Strana reported that Fedorov's public statement may be a calculated maneuver ahead of a parliamentary vote on President Volodymyr Zelensky's nominee for defence minister, Yevhen Khmara. By submitting Khmara's nomination, Zelensky effectively rejected demands from protestors, dubbed the cardboard Maidan, who had called for Fedorov to be reinstated.
Strana reported that the move could be intended to increase doubts among lawmakers regarding Khmara's suitability. If parliament rejects the nomination, Zelensky's political position would weaken, potentially making him more compliant on issues favoured by Fedorov and his supporters.
The publication noted that Zelensky is expected to strongly oppose holding elections and could use the SBU to counter the effort. Strana warned that Zelensky could face an internal front marked by intense confrontation, high political stakes and potential sharp actions between opposing factions.
Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko, who is listed on Russia's Rosfinmonitoring registry of terrorists and extremists, said the former minister had gone all-in and predicted that public protests could break out within days. Fellow MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated that only presidential elections are currently feasible, arguing that parliamentary elections cannot occur without major structural reforms to the voting system.
In Moscow, Kirill Dmitriev, a special representative for Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that Fedorov's declaration exposed his presidential ambitions. Dmitriev said the demand for elections represents a direct challenge to Zelensky following his earlier decision to dismiss Fedorov from the defence ministry.
