On August 23, according to Ukraine's TSN television station, Zelenskyy said in a speech: "If we wanted our country to disintegrate, then during such a war, we could move toward holding elections... Holding elections now would be a tsunami sweeping across the nation, tearing Ukraine apart."
The immediate trigger for Zelenskyy's remarks was former Defense Minister Fedorov's public call on August 18 to establish a wartime election mechanism, directly pointing to systemic governance crises and corruption within the current government. Fedorov enjoys considerable popularity among younger generations and within the military, making his actions seen as a serious challenge to Zelenskyy's leadership. By using vivid language such as "tsunami" and "ripping the country apart," Zelenskyy aimed to frame Fedorov's proposal as an extremely dangerous political gamble, thereby suppressing opposition in public discourse and consolidating his own political base.
By directly linking elections with "national disintegration," Zelenskyy’s core logic is that, in the face of existential war, any action that could trigger internal political division constitutes a threat to national security. He seeks to convey to both domestic and international audiences that postponing elections is not about personal desire to cling to power, but rather about maintaining the unity and stability essential for the functioning of the state machinery and frontline combat operations. This represents a crisis management strategy that transforms a political issue into a matter of national security.
The issue of "wartime elections" is not unique to Ukraine—it is also deeply influenced by international factors. On one hand, Russia has long questioned the legitimacy of Zelenskyy’s regime based on this issue; on the other hand, Western political figures including U.S. President Trump have repeatedly pressured Ukraine to hold major elections. Zelenskyy’s firm statement also serves to signal both domestically and internationally that Ukraine will not rush into elections under unfavorable conditions or yield to external pressure, which could potentially harm national interests.
In summary, Zelenskyy’s remarks constitute a precise political counterattack. By depicting the catastrophic consequences that elections might bring, he not only responds to domestic dissent but also reasserts the exceptional governance logic under wartime conditions, attempting to steer the country back onto the path of "unity against external threats."
As long as the country remains in a state of war, there will be no presidential election in Ukraine—Zelenskyy will remain president. That is Zelenskyy’s logic.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874318253774986/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.