France, UK reject rumours of drug pouch in Macron video

Officials from France, the United Kingdom and Germany have strongly rejected rumours about an alleged bag of cocaine belonging to President Emmanuel Macron on the train on the way to Kyiv before the weekend.

"This is a tissue. For blowing your nose," the Élysée Palace wrote on its official X account overnight, showing a close-up of the crinkled white item on Macron's table.

Any suggestion that it was something more suspicious was wrong, the post said, blaming "France's enemies".

"When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs. This fake news is being spread by France's enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation."

Macron travelled to Ukraine on Friday evening together with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

A video of the three leaders meeting on the train left many wondering what the object was on the table at Macron's place.

At one point, Macron hastily removes the white object from sight and hides it under his hand.

A rumour then spread online that it was a bag of cocaine.

Merz, for his part, allegedly hid a spoon to consume cocaine.

High-resolution images show that the object in front of Merz is a stirrer for a drink or a small skewer for canapés but not a spoon.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova shared the video, claiming "they forgot to put away their paraphernalia" before journalists arrived in the carriage.

When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs.This fake news is being spread by France's enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation. pic.twitter.com/xyXhGm9Dsr— Élysée (@Elysee) May 11, 2025

Prime Minister Starmer's official spokesman said: "We obviously don't know who's behind that particular misinformation.

"But we've obviously seen attempts like this in the past, particularly emanating from the Russian state, as it increasingly becomes more desperate in relation to to the war in Ukraine."

He added: "I don't plan on commenting any further on obviously fake news such as this."

In Germany, Merz's conservative Christian Democrats also took to social media to correct the record.

"It's actually just a tissue," the party wrote on its X account.

"Currently, many sides are trying to influence public opinion through disinformation campaigns."

It continued: "Enemies of our democracy are deliberately trying to weaken European unity and social cohesion. We stand against this. We stand for peace, freedom and responsibility in Europe."

with PA