Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Kremlin cites Ukraine splits after ousted minister urges elections
Ukraine’s former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said the country should hold elections during the war.
He said corruption had created a serious problem with how the government was being run.
The Kremlin said this showed that Ukraine’s leaders were divided.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had also called for Ukrainian elections.
Peskov said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy would not have enough legitimacy to negotiate with Russia without a vote.
Ukraine’s government says elections cannot be held while martial law is in effect.
Martial law is being used while Ukraine defends itself against Russia.
The disagreement has become a major political challenge for Zelenskiy during the war.
Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections, citing a systemic governance crisis linked to corruption.
The Kremlin said the call revealed deep divisions within Ukraine’s leadership.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin had repeatedly called for elections in Ukraine.
Peskov argued that without elections, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy lacked the legitimacy to negotiate directly with Russia.
Ukraine’s government has said elections cannot be held while martial law remains in place during the war.
- Who
- Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- What
- Fedorov called for wartime elections, and the Kremlin said the call exposed divisions in Ukraine’s leadership.
- When
- Fedorov made the call on Tuesday; the Kremlin responded on Wednesday, August 20.
- Where
- The Kremlin issued its response in Moscow; the dispute concerns Ukraine.
- Why
- Fedorov cited a systemic governance crisis over corruption, while the Kremlin said elections were needed for Zelenskiy to have legitimacy in negotiations with Russia.
Election Advocates
Martial-Law Position
Whether elections should be held now
Election Advocates
Mykhailo Fedorov said a vote was needed because Ukraine faced a systemic governance crisis linked to corruption.
Martial-Law Position
Ukraine’s government has said elections cannot be held while the country is under martial law and defending its territory.
Zelenskiy’s negotiating legitimacy
Election Advocates
The Kremlin and Vladimir Putin’s stated position is that elections are needed for Volodymyr Zelenskiy to have legitimacy to negotiate directly with Russia.
Martial-Law Position
Ukraine’s stated position is that wartime conditions and martial law prevent elections from being held.
Meaning of the election dispute
Election Advocates
The Kremlin portrayed Fedorov’s call as evidence of deep divisions and a heterogeneous political arena in Kyiv.
Martial-Law Position
The article reports Fedorov’s governance and corruption concerns but does not provide a Ukrainian government response describing the dispute as an internal split.
- Former minister
- Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former defence minister
- Main criticism
- Fedorov said Ukraine faced a systemic crisis of governance over corruption.
- Kremlin response
- The Kremlin said the call showed deep divisions in Ukraine’s leadership.
- Kremlin spokesman
- Dmitry Peskov
- Russian position
- Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called for elections in Ukraine, according to Peskov.
- Negotiating legitimacy
- Peskov said Zelenskiy lacked the legitimacy necessary to negotiate directly with Russia without elections.
- Ukraine’s stated position
- Ukraine’s government says elections cannot be held while martial law is in force.