Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly detailed a dispute with his recently dismissed Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, stating that Fedorov’s actions, including calls for an election during wartime and involvement in mass protests, were misguided. Zelensky also alluded to problematic defense spending decisions and stated that inaccurate information from the Defense Ministry contributed to an awkward encounter with former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the use of Starlink technology.
During a two-hour off-the-record meeting with reporters on Saturday, a transcript of which was released Sunday, Zelensky explained his perspective on Fedorov's dismissal. "I really had and still have a very positive attitude toward Mykhailo. We have been through a lot together. But I believe that he himself goes, or is pushed, into the wrong things," Zelensky said.
Fedorov, who was credited with modernizing Ukraine's armed forces and accelerating the integration of technology and drone warfare, was dismissed last month. His removal reportedly followed a falling out with the country's top military commander and triggered weeks of protests that ultimately failed to reverse the decision. Fedorov subsequently called for an election.
Zelensky stated he offered Fedorov four alternative government roles, all of which were rejected. The Ukrainian president emphasized the significant risks of holding an election during the ongoing war, describing it as a potential "tsunami for the state that would split Ukraine apart." He noted that previous pressures to hold elections during the war lacked concrete plans for safe, legitimate, and democratic execution.
Starlink Incident and White House Encounter
Zelensky linked Fedorov to an incident earlier this year involving Starlink. According to Zelensky, the Defense Ministry informed him that SpaceX had agreed to permit Ukraine to use Starlink over Russian territory for deep strike operations, pending political approval. Acting on this information, Zelensky raised the issue with then-President Trump. He informed Trump that Musk had confirmed the proposed use, and subsequent discussions involved seeking Musk’s confirmation and financing.
However, Zelensky recounted that Trump later informed him that Musk had rejected the proposal and accused Zelensky of misleading him. Musk reportedly considered the move a dangerous escalation. "He said that I had supposedly deceived him, because Musk had denied Ukraine the use of Starlink on Russian territory. I went back to our Ministry of Defense and they said that maybe it was so," Zelensky stated, without explicitly accusing Fedorov of lying but indicating the situation was a factor in "some of the steps."
Zelensky also addressed protests against former army chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi and current Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Yevhen Khmara, calling such vilification excessive. "Listen, this is too much. Do you understand? In principle, you can’t treat the military like this and tolerate it, especially when it was the military that made it possible for any peaceful protests to take place in the Ukrainian capital at all," he said.
Defense Budget Pressures and Battlefield Gains
The Ukrainian president also highlighted significant financial pressures on the nation's defense efforts. He stated that the Defense Ministry faced a $27 billion budget shortfall due to spending decisions that brought forward funds originally allocated for the latter half of the year. Zelensky noted that anti-corruption investigators involved in a recent inquiry that led to the dismissal of a senior official do not believe the president was involved in any wrongdoing.
On the battlefield, Zelensky expressed optimism. He reported that Ukrainian forces have almost completely regained control of the Dnipropetrovsk region, with only a small area remaining under Russian control. Another operation was underway elsewhere, with results expected by the end of August. Zelensky predicted that by year's end, Ukraine could achieve parity between territory occupied by Russia since the start of the year and territory recaptured by Ukrainian forces. Russia has occupied approximately 380 square miles since the beginning of the year, while Ukraine has restored control over about 315 square miles.
Air Defense Shortages
Zelensky also addressed the critical shortage of Patriot air-defense missiles, noting that deliveries from Western allies have declined over the past three years even as Russian ballistic attacks have intensified. Ukraine received 675 Patriot missiles in 2023, 364 in 2025, and expects to receive 264 this year. Ukraine is seeking an additional 300 Patriot missiles for the upcoming winter, with its air force requesting 360. The shortfall is exacerbated by difficulties in expanding production in the United States and Europe. Zelensky expressed hope that Ukraine could obtain even a small percentage of U.S. reserves and is prepared to pay for them.
He estimated that Russia could eventually produce up to 1,300 ballistic missiles annually, compared to an estimated current capacity of 600. Ukraine is also developing alternatives to Starlink, including a European communications project, as Russia and China work on their own competing systems.