A viral video of French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz aboard a train to Kyiv sparked wild social media speculation, falsely alleging the leaders were involved in drug use.
What the Video Actually Shows:
- The footage, taken during their journey from Poland to Ukraine, shows the three leaders around a table.
- Macron is seen moving a small white object (which he then appears to pass beneath the table).
- Merz also appears to touch or swipe something from the table.
These movements led some online users to claim:
- Macron was hiding a pouch of cocaine.
- Merz had a straw or spoon used for drug consumption.
Official Clarifications:
The Élysée Palace quickly responded on X, saying:
“When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.”
- French media, including Libération, confirmed that the object in question was a handkerchief, and Merz’s action involved a drink stirrer, not drug paraphernalia.
- There is no evidence to support the cocaine claims.
Who Started the Rumor?
- The disinformation appears to have been amplified by Russian state actors.
- Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, referred to the three leaders mockingly and repeated the baseless drug use claims, even calling Ukrainian President Zelenskyy an “unstable cocaine addict.”
The Broader Context:
- Macron, Starmer, and Merz were visiting Kyiv as part of a diplomatic show of support for Ukraine’s resistance against Russia.
- Their meeting included discussions on military support, strategic presence, and further coordination under the “coalition of the willing.”
- The UK hosted follow-up talks with European ministers on security and defense coordination shortly after.
