French President Emmanuel Macron’s office has responded to false claims that he was hiding a drug packet during a trilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on May 9, 2025, aboard a train to Kyiv.
The claims were spread by Russian media outlets, which suggested that Macron had concealed a drug packet during the meeting. The Elise Palace refuted these allegations, stating that the item in question was simply a tissue paper and that these disinformation campaigns are the work of those who wish to undermine European unity.
The statement from Macron’s office read:
“When European unity becomes inconvenient for some, misinformation goes so far that even a simple tissue paper is made to appear like a drug packet.”
The photo in question clearly shows a tissue used for blowing one’s nose, and the statement emphasized that the false news was intended to manipulate the public, both in France and abroad. They also highlighted that these false claims were circulated widely by Russian media and other online platforms, such as Telegram and X (formerly Twitter).
On the same trip, Macron, Merz, and Starmer, accompanied by Poland’s leadership, visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During their visit, they called on Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, promising increased support to Ukraine.
The disinformation campaign began on Sunday when Russian outlets falsely reported that Macron was hiding drugs. A subsequent photo of the leaders in the train, shared widely, misrepresented the situation, leading to conspiracy theories online.
During the Kyiv meeting on May 10, the European leaders again warned Moscow of “massive” new sanctions if President Vladimir Putin rejected the ceasefire proposal.
The European leaders’ visit and their calls for peace and support for Ukraine are part of broader efforts to counter Russian aggression while ensuring unity within the European Union.
