France blasts ‘fake news’ surrounding train photo with world leaders
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, meets with French President Emanuel Macron, center, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz onboard a train to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv where all three will hold meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The claim, originating from a video showing Macron with a tissue and Merz with a coffee stirrer, was amplified by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Telegram.
France publicly refuted the accusations on X (formerly Twitter), labeling it as disinformation spread by adversaries and emphasising European unity.
This incident reflects a broader Russian disinformation campaign targeting European leaders, often portraying them as drug users to discredit their support for Ukraine.
France has adopted a more proactive approach to countering such disinformation, directly addressing and debunking false narratives.