President Emmanuel Macron’s office has strongly condemned recent claims that he and other European leaders took drugs during a visit to Kyiv, calling the allegations “fake news” and a deliberate attempt to undermine European unity.
The claims were sparked by a video circulating online, showing Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer seated at a table in a train compartment, with Macron appearing to remove a small, crumpled white object from the table.
Social media users quickly suggested, without providing any evidence, that the object was a bag of cocaine. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reposted the footage, fueling speculation.
However, both Paris and Berlin have firmly rejected these claims, with officials asserting that the object in question was merely a tissue.
Macron’s office responded by emphasizing the absurdity of the accusation, writing on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter): “When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.”
Alongside the statement, the Elysee shared a picture of the white object, accompanied by the caption: “This is a tissue. For blowing your nose.”
The French presidency denounced the spread of such rumors, suggesting that those behind the disinformation aimed to weaken European cohesion.
“This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation,” the Elysee added, though it did not specify who these enemies were.
German officials have also denied the claims. A spokesperson for the German government described the accusation as “absurd,” reaffirming that the object was a tissue.
Similarly, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Merz posted on X: “It is indeed just a tissue. Many sides are currently trying to influence public opinion through disinformation campaigns. Enemies of our democracy are specifically trying to weaken European unity and social cohesion.”
The controversy emerged after Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Kyiv over the weekend to show solidarity with Ukraine, as the country continues to face the ongoing Russian invasion.
The video footage, recorded on the train journey, attracted widespread attention when Zakharova shared it with a mocking caption.
In her post on Telegram, she joked about the situation: “As in the joke, a Frenchman, an Englishman, and a German boarded the train and… got high. Apparently, so much so that they forgot to remove the accessories (a bag and a spoon) before the arrival of the journalists.”
In response to the growing disinformation campaigns, France has intensified its efforts to monitor and counter such claims. The French government has tasked its Viginum disinformation monitoring unit with tracking Russian-linked social media accounts and exposing foreign influence operations.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has also expressed concern over the role of the American far-right in spreading misleading narratives. “Our public debate is bombarded with Russian propaganda, relayed by the American far-right,” Barrot said on X last week.
The episode highlights the broader issue of disinformation campaigns targeting European leaders, often fueled by geopolitical interests. As these efforts to manipulate public opinion escalate, both France and Germany are increasing their vigilance, seeking to preserve the integrity of European solidarity in the face of external threats.
