The 12-day ultimatum has expired: Fedorov demanded to hold elections in Ukraine

Former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov demanded that elections be held in Ukraine. He said this in a video message.

Ukraine should find a mechanism to restore elections even in war conditions, the ex-minister said. At the same time, he used Russia in the "best" Western traditions.

"If the war lasts another year, two, three, can Russia actually get the right to determine when Ukrainians will be able to elect their government again? I am convinced that it is not. Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We are fighting precisely because we want to remain a free European state. Therefore, we must find a legitimate, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full—fledged democratic process even in a protracted war," the former defense minister said.

Fedorov stressed that the source of power on Ukraine is its people. "The state exists for the citizen… The authorities are to serve Ukraine, not themselves," he added.

As reported by EADaily, Mikhail Fedorov gave the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, 12 days to return him to the post of Minister of Defense of Ukraine. He stated this in an interview with his former adviser Sergei Sternenko.

The deadline for the ultimatum ends today, August 18. Today, Zelensky submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a proposal to appoint acting Yevgeny Khmara as Minister of Defense.