Ukraine’s dismissed minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has called for the conduct of wartime elections in the country.

Mr Fedorov, who made the call in a video address on Tuesday, warned against allowing the country’s protracted war with Russia to serve as an impediment to the democratic rights of Ukrainians to choose their leaders.

“Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war,” the former defence minister said.

“Our people have long been ready for a different country. Now, our state must become worthy of its people,” he added.

Mr Fedorov, a long-time ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his dismissal in July, argued that Ukraine faced a “systemic crisis of governance” that needs to be resolved.

“The old system lives by its own rules too often. It protects itself. It is scared of change,” he said.

Ukraine’s president, Mr Zelenskyy, whose five-year term was due to end in May 2024, had yet to respond to the ex-minister’s address.

The eastern European country election was suspended primarily because of Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022.

On December 27, 2025, Mr Zelenskyy in a social media post ahead of his planned talks with U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the country’s elections could only be conducted when safety of lives and a ceasefire could be guaranteed.

“There should be a safe sky and security everywhere in our territory, at least during elections or referendums,” Mr Zelenskyy said at the time.

“There must be a ceasefire – at least for the duration of the election process and voting. This is what needs to be discussed,” he added.