Zelensky rejects rival's call for vote, says would 'split' Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine, August 24 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky said in remarks made public that it would be too dangerous for Ukraine to hold an election while it fights Russia, after a call by his former defense minister to organize a vote. Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law, a measure still widely supported by the population as the country focuses on fighting off the Russian invasion launched in 2022.

The Ukrainian leader -- a former TV comedian elected in 2019 -- has previously faced calls from both Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to stage a vote, even as Moscow rains down missiles and drones across the country on a daily basis. "I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk. Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine," Zelensky said. "If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war," added the 48-year-old. He made the comments Saturday in a briefing with journalists including AFP.

Kyiv has been engulfed in a political crisis over the summer, triggered when Zelensky fired popular defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Thousands took to the streets to demand his reinstatement, while Fedorov issued blistering attacks against the army's top brass. The row forced Zelensky to sack his commander-in-chief.

Then days ago, the ousted Fedorov made a surprise call to find a way to organize elections. He did not state explicitly that he wanted to challenge Zelensky, but the shock move made even some of his supporters distance themselves. Experts have cited a flurry of obstacles to staging elections. They include how soldiers, millions of Ukrainian refugees and people from occupied territories would cast their ballots, as well as the threat of both interference and physical attacks from Russia.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com