Ukraine slams French far-left presidential hopeful Mélenchon

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry criticized French far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon after he said any territorial concessions by Kyiv should be decided through votes, drawing backlash in both Kyiv and Paris. The dispute centers on how much say citizens should have over possible land compromises with Russia, a sensitive issue as France’s 2027 presidential race takes shape. Mélenchon’s remarks add a foreign-policy flashpoint to his campaign and test how far-left parties balance sovereignty for Ukraine with calls for negotiations. Watch whether Mélenchon clarifies the scope and timing of any referendum, and whether Kyiv’s allies in France treat the episode as a broader signal of shifting positions on Ukraine.