Overview

• A viral video misrepresented a crumpled tissue near President Emmanuel Macron as a bag of cocaine during a train trip to Kyiv with EU leaders.
• The Russian Foreign Ministry amplified the false narrative, with spokesperson Maria Zakharova alleging drug use by Western leaders.
• Independent fact-checking by Libération, AFP, and AP confirmed the object was a tissue, while a visible white strip was identified as a plastic spoon.
• The Élysée officially condemned the claims as disinformation targeting European unity and reiterated the need to counter manipulation.
• This incident highlights the ongoing use of digital disinformation to undermine EU solidarity amidst the conflict in Ukraine.