Ukraine slams French far-left presidential hopeful Mélenchon
The French politician said territorial concessions should be decided with votes, sparking backlash in Kyiv and Paris.
The Ukrainian government expressed strong disapproval on Monday over French presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon's suggestion that a referendum could resolve territorial disputes in war-torn Ukraine. In a statement via X, the Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi condemned the idea, stating that "referendums under occupation are a tool of annexation, not an expression of the people's will."
He emphasized that no democratic nation would accept such a proposal for its borders, and Ukraine had already voted in 1991, while Russia seeks to alter the country's borders through war. Mélenchon's remarks at a France Unbowed rally on Saturday came after the presidential candidate pledged to seek the consent of affected Ukrainians in Donbas, a region at the heart of the territorial conflict with Russia, before accepting any border changes.
The Ukrainian government's criticism follows a spat last month with France's far-right presidential contender, Marine Le Pen, who called for reducing financial aid to Kyiv. Should Mélenchon or Le Pen emerge victorious in France's upcoming presidential election, which could pit them against each other in a runoff, it could significantly impact France's staunch support for Ukraine.
Recent polls suggest the two could face off in the second round. French officials have accused Mélenchon of being a "Kremlin spokesperson," while his critics in France's centrist camp have dismissed his proposed platform as insufficient without a clear commitment to Ukraine's security.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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