Mélenchon Accused of Echoing Kremlin Propaganda on Ukraine

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused far-left presidential contender Jean-Luc Mélenchon of acting as a “Kremlin spokesman” after the politician suggested that any territorial settlement in Ukraine should be subject to a vote by the populations concerned. Mélenchon, leader of the France Unbowed (LFI) party, made the remarks during a campaign speech on Saturday, Nov. 7, arguing that a peace agreement cannot involve territorial concessions without consulting the people affected.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We cannot accept that one could consider a peace with territorial concessions in Ukraine without asking the populations concerned if they agree or not to be on one side or other of the border,” Mélenchon told supporters. “It is for the people themselves to decide what they want,” he added. Barrot criticized the proposal, saying Mélenchon had “simply made himself the Kremlin’s spokesman” on a potential peace settlement. The remarks, made during an interview with RTL and Public Sénat on Sunday, “definitively disqualify him from holding the position to which he aspires,” Barrot said. Mélenchon fires back Mélenchon dismissed Barrot’s criticism in a post on X on Sunday, Nov. 8, accusing the foreign minister of attributing to him the government’s own position on territorial concessions. He referred to a December 2025 proposal involving “territorial exchanges” and said: “Poor Barrot has once again missed a chance to keep quiet.” Other Topics of Interest ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 8, 2026 War in Ukraine - Latest update, key takeaways and map from the Institute for the Study of War on November 8, 2026. Ce pauvre Barrot a encore perdu une occasion de se taire. Il m'attribue, pour la condamner, sa propre politique de cession du Donbass. Il devrait lire les propositions européennes de décembre 2025 pour la paix en Ukraine qu'il a soutenues en tant que ministre des Affaires…— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) November 8, 2026 Raphaël Glucksmann, Mélenchon’s main rival on the left in the presidential race, also accused him of promoting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s narrative about the Donbas. Speaking to BFMTV, Glucksmann said Mélenchon was “reciting... talking points handed out by the Kremlin for years and years.” He challenged the proposal to hold a referendum in the Donbas, arguing that Russia had already driven much of the Ukrainian population out of the territory it occupies. Ukraine has consistently rejected territorial concessions in peace negotiations with Russia. The dispute comes as France’s political parties prepare for the 2027 presidential election. Opinion polls suggest Mélenchon has a chance of reaching the second round. The controversy also comes days before a new round of US-mediated negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, scheduled for Nov. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi, aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.