The Elysee Palace has condemned as “disinformation” the viral rumor accusing French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of using cocaine aboard a diplomatic train route to Kyiv. The conspiracy originated from pro-Russian social media accounts and was soon amplified by senior Kremlin figures, including foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The baseless theory misrepresented a high-resolution photo of Macron picking up a tissue as evidence of drug use, which the Elysee publicly refuted with the message: “This is a tissue. For blowing your nose.”
The timing of the disinformation campaign aligns with increased Russian efforts to fracture European unity and derail discussions on a proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. By targeting the credibility of Western leaders, the Kremlin appears to be leveraging social media to manipulate public perception and sow distrust among allies. Officials have warned that such fabricated narratives are part of a larger propaganda strategy intended to benefit Russia’s political and military objectives.
This incident echoes earlier Kremlin attacks, including claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s alleged drug use, and highlights the growing use of AI-generated or manipulated content to spread fake news. The French government has urged vigilance, emphasizing that such tactics aim to undermine trust, democratic discourse, and international solidarity with Ukraine.
