France has denounced a wave of misinformation spreading across social media that falsely accused European leaders of drug use during a diplomatic mission to Ukraine. Officials slammed the claims as “fake news” and a deliberate attempt by Russia to sabotage European efforts to support peace in Ukraine.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated widely on X, showing French president Emmanuel Macron, British prime minister Keir Starmer, and German chancellor Friedrich Merz in a train compartment en route to Kyiv for a meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. As Merz and Starmer enter the cabin, Macron is seen removing a white tissue from a table.
“This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation,” the French president said.
Photographs taken by AFP and other accredited media outlets confirmed the white object was merely a used tissue. The Elysee, posting a zoomed-in image, clarified: “This is a tissue for blowing your nose.”
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot didn’t mince words, directly accusing Moscow of orchestrating the hoax. “You are now propagating blatant hoaxes. This is irresponsible—and lame,” he said, calling Russia “desperate” to derail peace efforts.
