Fedorov's Election Bid Puts Zelensky Under Pressure

On 20 August 2026, in Ukraine, a former defence minister named Fedorov called for wartime elections, adding political pressure on Zelenskyy. The Guardian described his sacking as turning a former Zelenskyy loyalist into a potent political opponent. Reuters and Daily Sabah wrote that the ousted defence minister's gamble against Zelenskyy has backfired as protests ended, while France 24 called his election appeal a risky political bet.

Other reports point to further pressure on Zelenskyy: Euronews wrote that anti-corruption probes are closing in on his inner circle, and Russian outlets reported that a Rada member said Zelenskyy could lose any election and that Ukrainian media expect a trip by Fedorov to the United States. A former Ukrainian prime minister was quoted as saying the US might make Fedorov president. The Kremlin spoke of 'fishing in troubled waters' in Ukraine and said there is no reason for optimism about a peace settlement.