Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Speaks Out on Dispute with Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly detailed the rift with his dismissed Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, stating that the former minister’s actions were misguided.

In a two-hour off-the-record meeting with reporters on Saturday, Zelenskyy expressed his concerns about Fedorov’s involvement in mass protests and calls for elections following his dismissal.

‘I really had and still have a very positive attitude toward Mykhailo,’ Zelenskyy said. ‘We have been through a lot together. But I believe that he himself goes, or is pushed, into the wrong things.’

Zelenskyy emphasized that he had offered Fedorov four different options to continue working in government, but the former minister rejected all proposals.

One of the issues Zelenskyy mentioned was the Defense Ministry’s involvement in an awkward episode involving Starlink and Elon Musk. Zelenskyy said that earlier this year, the Defense Ministry had informed him that SpaceX had agreed to allow Ukraine to use Starlink over Russian territory to carry out deep strike operations, subject to political approval.

Acting on this information, Zelenskyy raised the issue directly with U.S. President Donald Trump, telling him that Musk had confirmed the proposed use. However, at a later meeting, Trump informed Zelenskyy that Musk had rejected the proposal, accusing him of having misled the U.S. president.

Zelenskyy did not explicitly accuse Fedorov of lying, but stated that this episode was among the reasons behind ‘some of the steps.’

Ukraine’s Military Efforts and Shortage of Patriot Missiles

Zelenskyy also touched on Ukraine’s military efforts, stating that the country had almost completely recaptured the Dnipropetrovsk region, with only about 10 square kilometers remaining under Russian control.

He highlighted the challenges faced by Ukraine’s defense effort, citing a $27 billion budget shortfall due to spending decisions earlier in the year that brought forward funds originally intended for the second half of 2026.

Regarding the shortage of Patriot air-defense missiles, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine received 675 Patriot missiles in 2023, compared with 364 in 2025 and an expected 264 in 2026. He expressed his desire to secure 300 additional Patriot missiles for the coming winter, while Ukraine’s Air Force had requested 360.

Zelenskyy emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that the shortfall is particularly serious due to the United States and European partners struggling to expand production.

He also predicted that by the end of 2026, Ukraine could reach parity between the territory occupied by Russia since the beginning of the year and the territory retaken by Ukrainian forces.

The president said Russia’s principal objective remains the Konstantynivka-Sloviansk-Kramatorsk axis and that Moscow is still demanding Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas region as a condition for a settlement.

Zelenskyy also pushed back against protesters’ vilification of former army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and current Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Yevhen Khmara, stating that they had gone too far.

Corruption Probe and Financial Pressure on Ukraine’s Defense Effort

Zelenskyy touched on a corruption probe that led him to fire one of his most senior officials this week, stating that anti-corruption investigators do not believe the president was involved.

He emphasized the severe financial pressure on Ukraine’s defense effort, stating that the Defense Ministry faces a significant budget shortfall due to spending decisions earlier in the year.

Zelenskyy also highlighted the importance of addressing corruption within the government, stating that he had fired one of his most senior officials in connection with a money-laundering case.

He expressed his commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that he had offered the head of the anti-corruption agency a chance to review the case files and confirm that he was not involved.