Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for wartime elections to be held in the country, calling them "a tsunami" that would "split Ukraine" at a time when Russia is increasings its deadly attacks.
Speaking to journalists in Kyiv on August 22, Zelenskyy was responding to former Defense Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov's call for Ukraine to find a way to hold elections despite the ongoing war.
"Elections right now are a tsunami for the state that will split Ukraine. Therefore, my strategy is to bring the country to the end of the war and preserve an independent and sovereign state," Zelenskyy said.
Fedorov, whose dismissal last month sparked protests, delivered a videotaped address to Ukrainians on August 21 in which he assailed wartime corruption, warned of a systemic crisis of governance, and said the country must find a way to hold elections despite the continuing Russian invasion.
Zelenskyy made the comments as Kyiv hosted the NB8-Ukraine summit on August 23, bringing Nordic and Baltic leaders together with Zelenskyy on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day.
Leaders from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway convened in the capital, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. Other senior representatives from partner countries were also in attendance.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, who co-chaired the summit with Zelenskyy, said Ukraine needs continued military support.
"Ukraine must receive everything it needs to defend itself and resist Russian aggression. First and foremost, this means more air defense, more ammunition, and greater investment in Ukraine’s defense industry. At the same time, we must increase pressure on Russia, strengthen sanctions and close the loopholes Russia uses to evade them,” Michal said.
He also highlighted the threat to Ukraine's energy sector ahead of winter.
"We are helping Ukraine prepare for winter and protect and restore critical energy infrastructure, which remains under threat because of Russia's brutality," Michal said.
Separately, Zelenskyy also held talks with US Senators Richard Blumenthal and James Lankford in Kyiv during the National Prayer Breakfast.
He thanked Washington for its “unwavering bipartisan and bicameral support” and said efforts were continuing in both chambers of Congress to increase pressure on Russia, including the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill targeting Russia and Iran.
As Russia continued its missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, Zelenskyy said he briefed the senators on "Russia's ongoing terror with ballistic missiles," stressing the importance of giving Kyiv the capabilities to counter the attacks.
He said implementing a decision to grant licenses for the production of Patriot systems "could significantly help."
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, on August 23 Russian forces launched a massive barrage of 127 strike drones across the country overnight.
Zelenskyy warned that Russia is seeking to sharply expand its ballistic-missile production.
"I believe Russia may have up to 1,300 ballistic missiles a year. Now they have 600-630. Approximately we understand how much they are counting on from today until the end of winter. They can have about 100 ballistic missiles per month. But now they don't have that yet," he said.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working to weaken Russia's military industry, including through strikes on military targets and other measures aimed at reducing ballistic-missile production.
The figures have not been independently verified.
Coalition Of The Willing
Ukraine’s European partners were slated to meet in Kyiv on August 24.
The Coalition of the Willing, led by London and Paris and comprising 34 countries supporting Ukraine, will meet in the capital in hybrid format, with some leaders attending in person and others joining by video conference.
Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy stressed the urgency of securing European funding for Ukraine's defense, calling on the European Parliament to approve the legislation needed to unlock the money.
"We are supposed to receive 30 billion euros in European funding.... It is tied to the adoption of the relevant legislation," he said. "It is very important here that parliament works -- the entire parliament, including the opposition. Because [this money is] needed for the defense of the entire country."
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will co-chair the meeting, which will focus on continued military support for Ukraine, air defense and longer-term security arrangements. Both Macron and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Sekerinska will join the summit remotely via video link.
No US representative is identified as a participant in the meeting.
On August 22, Macron vowed to accelerate delivery of new air interceptor missiles to Kyiv following devastating Russian attacks on Ukraine in the past few days and a phone call with Zelenskyy.
"I spoke with President Zelenskyy in the aftermath of the double Russian strike in broad daylight against a shopping center in Kryviy Rih, which caused numerous civilian casualties, and I expressed our horror and deep sorrow," Macron wrote on Twitter.
Two Russian jet-powered drones struck the largest shopping mall in the south-central city of Kryviy Rih on the afternoon on August 21, as many residents were out shopping at the end of the work week.
The attack killed at least 16 people, leaving more than 130 others injured, including 23 children, some of whom are in critical condition.
Zelenskyy, a native of Kryviy Rih, said that "every day that Ukraine lacks air defense is a sacrifice that could have been avoided."
Macron said he assured Zelenskyy of "the strengthening of our support with the deployment of interceptors.... It is essential that all countries with available capabilities also join this effort. We must also continue to increase pressure on Russia as long as it chooses to refuse a ceasefire and peace."
Without providing details, Macron said the accelerated delivery of interceptor missiles is in line with commitments made in July at the launch of an Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.
At that Paris meeting, a grouping of 10 European countries agreed to develop an anti-ballistic missile system as a cheaper alternative to the US-made Patriot air defense system. The Patriot is the only weapon Kyiv holds that is capable of downing high-speed ballistic missiles used by Russia against Ukrainian cities.
Macron said Paris would advance the deployment of the new SAMP/T system to Ukraine and license Kyiv to manufacture the interceptor missiles, as well as the SCALP long-range cruise missile and other weapons.
Following the two-hour phone call, Zelenskyy said he and Macron also discussed the status of peace talks and contacts with the United States. Attempts by US President Donald Trump to bring about a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv have so far proved unsuccessful.
"We agreed on steps that could open up additional diplomatic opportunities," Zelenskyy said.
