A video clip that was widely circulated on social media platforms has sparked widespread controversy about French President Emmanuel Macron, after he appeared on a train heading to Ukraine, accompanied by German Chancellor Freders Mirz and British Prime Minister Kiir Starmer.
The clip, which was photographed at a moment that looks informal, shows Macron as he quickly hides a small white thing, at a time when Mirz was also hiding something else. Social media users were not late in interpreting the scene, as some claimed that Macron was carrying a small bag of cocaine, and they considered that Mirz was carrying a teaspoon.
New: French Media is Shutting Download Social Media Rumors that FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MacRON WAS CAGHTT with
The Moment Was Caught During A Traine Ride from Poland to Ukraine where repors enth.
Macron Was Meeting with the … pic.twitter.com/rmokq5vkut
– Collin Rugg (@collinrugg) May 11, 2025
French responses: “No evidence … just a handkerchief”
French media quickly denied these allegations, so the newspaper “Liberation” defended the French President, stressing that “there is no evidence of these allegations,” noting that what Macron caught was only a paper handkerchief, while Mirz was in possession of a stirring tool, as she put it. The newspaper considered that what was promoted is “a conspiracy theory, no more”, and called for not to be drifted behind this type of speculation.
For his part, the Elysee Palace confirmed that the alleged cyst is only a handkerchief, and that everything that arises is an attempt to distort the image of European leaders. “European unity disturbs the enemies of France,” said an official in the palace.
Quand l’.
Cette fausse information est propagée par les ennemis de la France, à l’Extérieur comme à l’entérieur. Vigilance Face Aux Manipulations. pic.twitter.com/R62pic4jro
– élysée (@lysee) May 11, 2025
Zakharova replies: “This is not a handkerchief.”
For her part, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, took advantage of the event to direct accusations, as she published through the “Telegram” application claiming that what appeared in the hands of Macron was a “cocaine bag”, and that Mirz was carrying a “cocaine spoon”. She mocked that the three leaders were “at a high level” at that moment, noting that they “forgot to put their tools aside.”
As for the Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, it increased the ambiguity of the image, asking via “X” -“Twitter” previously -“Are these shots realistic or of artificial intelligence?
This controversy comes at a sensitive time, as the French president went on May 9 to the Ukrainian capital Kiev, accompanied by his German and British counterparts, on a visit described as a solidarity nature, aimed at supporting Ukraine and providing a ceasefire initiative directed to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to French media, the journey on the night train, which started from Poland, witnessed an informal atmosphere, during which the three leaders exchanged talks away from the media lenses, before they arrived in the Ukrainian lands.