Fedorov may visit the US after call for elections - The Guardian

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is considering a trip to the United States, which could take place as early as next week. The Guardian links the potential visit to the politician's attempt to secure support in the United States after his public call to hold presidential elections during the war.

"Fedorov is now considering a visit to the US, possibly as early as next week, apparently seeking American support," the British publication writes.

However, The Guardian does not specify who exactly Fedorov might meet in the US and whether such a trip is coordinated. There are currently no public confirmations of the upcoming visit from Fedorov himself or American officials.

Fedorov spoke openly about elections for the first time

Information about the possible trip emerged after Fedorov published a video address on August 18, in which he spoke of a "systemic management crisis" in Ukraine and called for presidential elections even under war conditions.

He also criticized the situation with corruption, transparency of public administration, and personnel policy. His speech became one of the most open political challenges to President Volodymyr Zelensky from a former high-ranking member of his team.

The Guardian notes that Fedorov became the first major Ukrainian political figure to publicly call for returning to the issue of presidential elections during the full-scale war.

The topic of elections had previously been raised in the US

Fedorov's possible trip has a separate political context due to the position of US President Donald Trump. He had previously publicly raised the issue of holding elections in Ukraine, although these statements came amid tense relations between Washington and Zelensky.

That is why The Guardian views Fedorov's potential visit as a possible attempt to gain support from the American side. At the same time, the publication does not report any agreements between Fedorov and the Trump administration or American political forces.

During martial law, national elections in Ukraine are not held. The question of their possible resumption remains complex also due to the need to ensure voting for military personnel, millions of Ukrainians abroad, and citizens in front-line and temporarily occupied territories.

Political tension increased after Fedorov's dismissal

Fedorov left the post of defense minister in July. His dismissal caused protests in Kyiv and other cities, and the former minister subsequently began increasingly harsh criticism of the state and military management system.

The current escalation is also taking place against the backdrop of a new anti-corruption investigation, in which, according to NABU, high-ranking officials from the President's Office may be involved. On August 19, Zelensky dismissed Deputy Head of the OP Iryna Mudra, but the official reasons for the personnel decision were not explained.

Against this background, international media increasingly view Fedorov not only as a former member of the presidential team, but also as a potential independent political player. Financial Times, The Guardian and Le Monde called his call for elections a serious challenge to the current government.

Based on materials from: The Guardian, Le Monde