'Could destroy Ukraine': Zelenskyy's big warning as calls grow for fresh elections

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo credit: AP Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that holding elections during the ongoing war with Russia could fracture the country and even “destroy” it, as fresh calls grow for Kyiv to hold a vote despite martial law.Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, with the move continuing to receive broad public support as the country remains focused on the war.Zelenskyy was responding to a call by ousted former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov for Ukraine to find a way to organise fresh elections despite the ongoing conflict. Fedorov's demand has emerged as a direct challenge to Zelenskyy's leadership.“I believe that if we want to destroy the country, then we can move towards elections during this kind of war,” Zelenskyy said at a briefing with selected journalists, according to Reuters.He later warned that an election held under current conditions could further fracture the country.“I believe that during such a war, elections in general are big risks. Elections right now are a tsunami for the state that will split Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.The issue has neverth...