A recently dismissed Ukrainian defense minister has raised questions about corruption within the government and called for elections to be held in Ukraine. Mykhailo Fedorov, who was recently removed from his post, stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky "has questions to answer" regarding corruption. Fedorov also expressed his desire for elections to be reinstated in the country.
Fedorov, who previously served as Minister of Digital Transformation before being appointed Defense Minister, also criticized what he described as "bureaucracy and red tape" hindering the timely delivery of Western military aid. He indicated that governments supporting Ukraine are lagging behind the needs on the battlefield, with promised equipment not arriving until the end of the year. "Governments are lagging behind the realities on the ground," Fedorov said, adding that this issue is not exclusive to the United Kingdom but affects other nations as well.
He urged for direct funding of modern Ukrainian drone production rather than receiving outdated equipment or repairs. "We don't need repairs of tanks when we no longer use tanks," Fedorov stated, emphasizing a need for advanced weaponry aligned with current battlefield requirements.
The former minister suggested that timely deliveries of aid could save lives and allow Ukraine to share its military experience gained during the conflict with its allies. "Unfortunately, our losses, our blood, our military experience is beneficial to all of you guys. You can get this experience for all the assistance that you give us," he remarked.
While Fedorov denied immediate political ambitions, he did not rule out the possibility of running for president in the future. His decision would depend on the resumption of democratic elections, his personal energy levels, the preservation of his team, and the trust of the Ukrainian people. "It will all depend on how soon we'll be able to relaunch this democratic election process, [...] how much energy I would have, whether I will preserve my team, whether I will be able to respond to the question myself, whether I can handle this position of the president or not," he said. "What's more important, is whether people will tell me, yeah, we can trust you handling that position."