Call for wartime elections in Ukraine piles pressure on Zelensky when he least needs it

It is the biggest challenge to Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky yet, internally. But it will likely, practically, come to nothing.

Dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov's call for wartime presidential elections strikes at the heart of Zelensky's vulnerabilities. His sliding popularity, flip-flopping on key personnel decisions, and entanglement in corruption allegations have taken their toll on his poll ratings. A probe into senior officials in Zelensky's office was announced on Wednesday. Also, a wartime president for six uninterrupted years must take many unpopular decisions.