It’s a tissue of lies.
A bizarre conspiracy that European leaders snorted cocaine en route to critical Ukraine talks has been roundly ridiculed by the French president’s office, after it was promoted by Russian trolls as well as American conspiracists such as Alex Jones.
“This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation,” the Elysee Palace posted on X.
Macron (center) slammed a theory that European leaders snorted cocaine en route to critical Ukraine talks. AP
The conspiracy — thought to have started on the social networking app Telegram, which is popular in Russia — used edited footage of French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
In the clip, the trio enter a train carriage taking them to Kyiv for crucial talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Macron is seen hurriedly removing a crumpled tissue off the table, which conspiracy theorists claimed was a bag of cocaine, while Merz was alleged to be handling a white spoon for cocaine as cameramen film the three world leaders.
Conspiracy theorists believe cocaine was hidden in a tissue on the table. AP
The “spoon” which Merz removes from the table is in fact a plastic coffee stirrer.
Former InfoWars host Alex Jones was among the prominent Western social media accounts to promote the conspiracy.
He also branded Zelensky a “known cocaine enthusiast,” based on a previous Russian-spread conspiracy about the leader. He also wrongly claimed that the video showed the trio following their talks with Zelensky instead of prior to them.
He then later doubled down on the conspiracy, showing an edited crop on the video with a shine filter applied to it.
“You can clearly see it’s a bag of blow,” he insisted.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry also pushed the same disinformation on Sunday, with Putin’s puppet, Maria Zakharova, calling the French, British and German leaders “utterly [drug] dependent individuals” on her Telegram account.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron (center), Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (left) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hold a trilateral meeting on board a train to Kyiv, in Shegyni, Ukraine, on May 9, 2025. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“It’s as if the Almighty Himself is lifting the veil on this putrid spectacle,” she thundered.
Calling Zelensky an “unstable cocaine addict,” another Russian claim without evidence, she insisted that a Western diplomat had told her drug use was common among European leaders.
Other far-right accounts in Russia and the West amplified the conspiracy in the wake of talks between the three European powers.
Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine held a phone call with President Trump on Sunday during which they set the start of the cease-fire for Monday.
It followed Trump’s calls for Zelensky and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to join him for peace talks in Turkey this Thursday.
“Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!
“I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!.” the president added.
Putin had earlier proposed direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, which he claimed would aim to eliminate the root causes of the war.
