Melenchon blames Ukraine’s deep strikes for worsening war as he condemns Russian invasion
Jean-Luc Melenchon asserted that Ukraine’s deep drone attacks have contributed to the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, while still denouncing Russia’s invasion.
French far-left presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Melenchon released a video on Sept. 23 condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demanding a Russian withdrawal. He also raised the issue of Ukraine’s deep strikes, such as drone attacks on Moscow, suggesting they have amplified the war’s intensity. While emphasizing the need for diplomacy and peace talks, Melenchon did not outline specific steps to achieve a cease-fire.
His comments arrive amid a tightly contested race for the April 2027 presidency, with incumbent Emmanuel Macron barred from re-election, Marine Le Pen leading the polls, and several centrist candidates like Gabriel Attal and Edouard Philippe also in the field. Both Melenchon and Le Pen have faced scrutiny over perceived pro-Russia stances and are attempting to reshape their images. The debate over Ukraine aid and the war’s trajectory remains a prominent issue in the campaign.
Why it matters
Melenchon’s stance links the Ukraine conflict to French election debates, influencing voter perception of foreign policy.
How this story developed
- Sep 10 Ukrainian forces begin new offensive in northern Donetsk, commander says
- Sep 12 Russia will hold a tightly-controlled parliamentary election from Sept 18-20, the first since the 2022 invasion and seen as a barometer of support for the war.
- Sep 15 Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian assault on Lyman.
- Sep 16 Voting has begun, moving the election from planning to execution.
- Sep 19 Putin framed the election as a plebiscite on the war and called on citizens to turn out in support.
- Sep 19 State pollster VTsIOM said Putin’s trust rating hit 74.2% in the week before the election.
- Sep 21 Election commission chair Ella Pamfilova said preliminary results will be announced Monday at 11 hours (10 hours in Paris).
- Sep 21 Partial results show United Russia holding at least 338 of the 450 Duma seats.
- Sep 21 Preliminary results show United Russia winning 355 of the 450 State Duma seats, surpassing its previous 2016 high. The foreign ministries of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway issued a joint statement condemning elections held in Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions seized by Russia as violations of Ukraine's sovereignty. They demanded accountability for those organizing the vote and urged Russia to end its war and accept an unconditional ceasefire. The same period saw France support the removal of oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list, a move backed by Slovakia and linked to broader negotiations over detained French nationals in Azerbaijan.
- Sep 21 The Quai d’Orsay condemns holding the vote in the occupied territories of Crimea and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, calling it a violation of international law and the UN Charter and stating Fran
- Sep 21 Western allies issued a joint declaration condemning the election as a breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
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