Accusations of support for Russia

Some commentators claimed Mélenchon "supported Russia" and was sympathetic towards Vladimir Putin.[178][216] Notably, the journalist Nicolas Hénin said that Mélenchon is "on the left of the political spectrum, but is an advocate for the Kremlin leader", with Hénin quoting how Mélenchon is the "political victim number one" after the murder of the Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.[217] Cécile Vaissié, author of The Kremlin Networks, considers Mélenchon as "one of those that approve of Putin",[218] and Yannick Jadot of EELV said that the "pro-Russia" stance is "contrary to any environment thinking".[219]

Jean-Luc Mélenchon has been regularly described by political critics as friendly to Russia, an accusation he denies. According to French public radio channel France Inter, his position has varied, from dowplaying the threat in 2014 to outright condemnation after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine[220].

In 2015, opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, was killed next to the Kremlin.[221][222] In response, the EU Parliament voted a motion denouncing the human rights situation in Russia. Mélenchon was one of the only members of the European Parliament to vote against the motion[223]. He called it propaganda.[223]

In January 2022, a few weeks before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, he told Le Monde:

"The Russians are moving troops toward their borders? Who would not do the same thing with such a neighbor?" [224]

As soon as the invasion of Ukraine happened, Jean-Luc Mélenchon condemned it as an unlawful act of aggression on behalf of Russia. This criticism was criticised as opportunistic by Mélenchon's opponents.[220]

A few days after the invasion began, Jean-Luc Mélenchon said France should not provide any military aid to Ukraine.[225] He later changed his mind and endorsed providing military aid, justifying it by Ukraine's right to defend itself.[166] This change of policy was criticised by Mélenchon's opponents.

In October 2022, the French Parliament introduced a motion denouncing Russia's war against Ukraine. Most French political parties supported the motion.[226] Two exceptions were the Rassemblement National (far-right) and Mélenchon's France Insoumise. They both abstained[227].

In 2023, Mélenchon was invited on France 5. He said: "We should focus on ourselves. Why should we care about the centuries-old quarrels of the Latvians or Estonians with Russia? Why should we ensure Ukraine's physical borders?".[citation needed][225]

In May 2025, Sophia Chikirou, a French deputy member of Mélenchon's party, attended a rally celebrating the Allied victory over Nazism. Several media outlets accused this event of being pro-Russian. [228][229]

In August 2025, Jean-Luc Mélenchon created controversy after calling Volodymyr Zelensky an illegitimate leader due to the delay of the planned Ukrainian 2024 presidential election in the context of the war. At the same time he was criticised for arguing Vladimir Putin was only a threat to Ukraine and should not be considered a threat for Western Europe.[230][231]