Dmitry Medvedev has attacked France's far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National), calling it Russophobic and accusing it of supporting what he described as "Nazis in Kyiv," according to 20 Minutes. The remarks from the former Russian president, reported on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, mark an escalation in the public exchange between Moscow and the French party.
The criticism followed comments by RN figures Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, who said Russia does not threaten France, Midi Libre reported. Moscow responded to those statements by expressing its disagreement with the RN, according to the same outlet.
The episode has drawn attention to the RN's positioning on Russia and Ukraine. Le Monde reported that the party is distancing itself from Russia without clarifying its stance on Ukraine, describing the move as a balancing act ahead of France's 2027 presidential election. Yahoo Actualités framed the same question around whether a break between the RN and Russia is now complete.
Le Point, in a separate piece, argued that indulgence toward Vladimir Putin is a contagious condition, reflecting broader French media debate over the party's foreign policy ties.
Medvedev's intervention adds a Russian voice to a French domestic argument that is unfolding well before the next presidential vote. The RN has not, in the material available, offered a clear position on Ukraine, leaving its foreign policy direction an open question.
What to watch next is whether the RN clarifies its position on Ukraine and how Moscow's public criticism shapes the party's attempts to distance itself from Russia before 2027.
