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Ukraine rebukes French leftist Mélenchon over Donbas remarks
Ukraine rebuked French left-wing presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon after he said residents of Donbas should be consulted if a peace settlement involved territorial concessions. Kyiv said Ukrainians had already decided the country’s borders in the 1991 independence referendum, including voters in Donbas, and warned that votes held under Russian occupation serve annexation.
Mélenchon made the remarks at a campaign rally, saying a settlement to Russia’s invasion should not involve territorial concessions without the population’s consent. The dispute comes as he seeks the French presidency in 2027 and has renewed criticism of his approach to Ukraine; French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused him of echoing the Kremlin, while Mélenchon rejected that characterisation.
In short
- Ukraine says its borders were settled by the 1991 independence vote.
- Mélenchon said Donbas residents should be consulted on territorial concessions.
- His remarks have prompted criticism in France and Ukraine.