# Ukraine Rejects French Candidate’s Call for Donbas Referendum on Territory Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s proposal for a regional vote faces sharp rebuke from Kyiv and Paris. - **Source:** [Interia Fakty](https://fakty.interia.pl) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/88d1317f-cf48-47f7-857c-d5bf050afcb4 ## Controversial Referendum Proposal Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a leading French presidential candidate, suggested a referendum in the Donbas to determine its territorial status. He argued that residents should choose between Ukraine and Russia. Kyiv immediately rejected this, asserting that Ukrainian borders were already definitively settled by the overwhelming national independence vote held in 1991. ## Kyiv’s Firm Rejection Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhij Tychyj condemned the idea, noting that 83 percent of Donbas residents supported independence in 1991. Tychyj emphasized that referendums conducted under military occupation serve only as tools for annexation. He stated that no democratic nation would accept such a violation of its sovereign territorial integrity. ## Political Backlash in France The proposal triggered significant domestic criticism within France. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot labeled Mélenchon a 'Kremlin spokesperson' for his stance. Social democratic candidate Raphaël Glucksmann also joined the condemnation. Mélenchon later claimed his words were distorted by media, clarifying that any such vote would require mutual consent from both Russia and Ukraine. ## Current Territorial Reality Ukraine currently controls only about 10 percent of the Donbas region, comprising parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The remaining territory has been under Russian occupation since 2014 or following the 2022 full-scale invasion. This ongoing occupation remains a central, unresolved point of contention in all current international peace negotiations. ## Misinterpretation of Presidential Stance Mélenchon attempted to justify his position by citing previous comments from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding referendums. However, Kyiv clarified that Zelenskyy’s past references concerned a potential national vote for the entire country, not a localized plebiscite in occupied territories. This distinction remains a critical point of disagreement between the parties. ## Broader Diplomatic Context The dispute occurs as international peace efforts continue, with upcoming talks scheduled in Abu Dhabi. A previous U.S.-backed proposal from November 2025, which effectively recognized Russian control over Crimea and the Donbas, faced heavy criticism from Kyiv and European partners. Consequently, the original American peace plan has undergone significant subsequent modifications. ## French Election Dynamics These tensions unfold during the lead-up to France’s presidential election, scheduled for April 18, 2027. Marine Le Pen currently leads in the polls, with Mélenchon holding second place. The candidates' divergent views on the war in Ukraine highlight the deep political polarization regarding France's role in the ongoing international conflict. ## Implications for Peace Talks The incident underscores the difficulty of finding a diplomatic solution while Russia continues its military campaign. Kyiv maintains that Putin refuses to end the war despite constructive proposals. As negotiations persist, the rejection of territorial concessions remains a non-negotiable pillar of Ukraine’s strategy to restore its internationally recognized sovereign borders. ## Sources covering this story - [Interia Fakty — Ukraine Rejects Melenchon's Proposal for Donbas Referendum](https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/zagranica/news-melenchon-mowil-o-zapytaniu-mieszkancow-donbasu-ukrainskie-m,nId,23571493) - [Rzeczpospolita — Ukraine Rejects French Presidential Candidate’s Proposal for Donbas Referendum](https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art45468371-ukraina-odpowiada-kandydatowi-na-prezydenta-francji-referenda-pod-okupacja-sa-narzedziem-aneksji) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._