Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has for the first time spoken in detail about the conflict with former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was dismissed in July, reports the New York Post. During a two-hour meeting with journalists on Saturday, Zelensky stated that he still has a good relationship with Fedorov, but believes some of his recent actions were misguided. The transcript of the conversation was published on Sunday. "I really had and still have a very good relationship with Mykhailo. We have been through a lot together. But I believe that he is either going in the wrong direction or being pushed towards the wrong things," the Ukrainian president said. Fedorov was considered one of the most popular Ukrainian officials. He is credited with a significant contribution to the modernization of the Ukrainian armed forces, the development of military technologies, and the widespread use of drones. After his dismissal, mass protests demanding the return of the official took place in the country for several weeks. Fedorov himself later advocated for holding elections. Zelensky stated that he had offered Fedorov four options for further work in the government, but he refused all the proposals. The president also rejected the idea of holding elections during the war, warning of serious risks for the country. According to him, elections under the current conditions could lead to a deep political divide. Zelensky noted that he had previously faced pressure to conduct voting, but none of Ukraine's partners had proposed a realistic plan that would allow for organizing elections safely, legitimately, and democratically amid the ongoing war. ### The Starlink Story One of the most notable episodes hinted at by Zelensky was the story of using Starlink over Russian territory. According to the president, earlier this year, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense informed him that SpaceX allegedly agreed to allow Ukraine to use Starlink over Russian territory for long-range strikes. Political approval was required to implement such a plan. Upon receiving this information, Zelensky discussed the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Ukrainian leader claims he informed Trump that Elon Musk had confirmed the possibility of such use of the system. The parties also discussed funding for the project. However, during a subsequent meeting, Trump, according to Zelensky, stated that Musk rejected the proposal and considered it a dangerous escalation. "He said that I allegedly deceived him because Musk denied Ukraine the use of Starlink over Russian territory," Zelensky recounted. After that, the president sought clarification from the Ministry of Defense. There, according to him, they admitted that the information about Musk's position might have been incorrect. Zelensky did not directly accuse Fedorov of lying but indicated that this story was one of the reasons for subsequent personnel decisions. ### Disputes Over Military Leadership The Ukrainian president also spoke out against excessively harsh criticism of former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General Oleksandr Syrskyi and current Defense Minister Major General Yevhen Hmara. According to Zelensky, the protesters went too far when they began calling military leaders "devils." He emphasized that it was the Ukrainian military that ensured the possibility of peaceful protests in Kyiv. ### Money Shortage and Successes on the Front Zelensky also reported serious financial problems for Ukrainian defense. According to him, the defense budget deficit reached $27 billion after part of the funds intended for the second half of the year was spent prematurely earlier this year. At the same time, the president reported on the advancement of Ukrainian forces on the front. He stated that Ukraine had almost completely restored control over the Dnipropetrovsk region — according to Zelensky, only about 10 km² of territory remains under Russian control. The president also reported that since the beginning of the year, Russia has occupied about 984 km², while Ukrainian troops have regained approximately 816 km². Zelensky predicted that by the end of the year, these figures could equalize. He identified the main direction of Russian efforts as the axis of Konstantynivka — Sloviansk — Kramatorsk. According to the Ukrainian leader, Moscow continues to demand that Kyiv withdraw troops from Donbas as one of the conditions for resolving the conflict. ### Ukraine Lacks Patriot Missiles Zelensky identified the shortage of American Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, necessary for protection against Russian ballistic strikes, as a separate problem. According to him, Ukraine received 675 Patriot missiles in 2023, 364 in 2025, and expects to receive only 264 missiles this year. For the upcoming winter, Kyiv would like to receive another 300 interceptors, while Ukrainian military officials requested 360. Zelensky noted that missile production in the U.S. and Europe does not currently allow for quickly closing the gap. Ukraine, he said, is ready to purchase even 5–10% of American stocks if given the opportunity. The president also warned that Russia could potentially increase its production of ballistic missiles to 1,300 units per year. Currently, in his estimation, Russian capacities allow for the production of about 600 such missiles annually. At the same time, Kyiv is looking for alternatives to Starlink. Among the options, Zelensky mentioned a European communication project, as Russia and China are also developing their own competing systems. Zelensky's address was the first detailed public explanation of the reasons for the break with Fedorov. The president made it clear that the dissatisfaction was related not only to the dismissal of the minister but also to his political activity after his resignation, controversial decisions in the defense sector, and the story of the use of Starlink. Against the backdrop of internal political conflict, Zelensky is simultaneously facing larger issues — a shortage of funds and air defense missiles, as well as the need to maintain Ukraine's positions on the front.
