Truth behind viral video of French President Emmanuel Macron and world leaders

A video of Emmanuel Macron meeting with world leaders has sparked wild theories after the French President was seen reaching onto a table to hide a white object.

A video of Emmanuel Macron hiding a white object during a meeting with his British and German counterparts has gone viral online, with some accusing the French President of concealing a bag of cocaine in wild claims shut down by French media.

The video, shared widely on social media, shows Mr Macron sitting down with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on-board a train travelling from Poland to Ukraine.

As the world leaders pose for photos, footage shows Mr Macron quickly swiping a white object from the table with his right hand, before discreetly moving it to his left hand beneath the table and out of view.

The clip sparked widespread speculation online, with some alleging the object to be a bag of white powdered cocaine.

“Three men and a bag of white powder,” one person wrote on X. “Notice how Macron sneakily and deftly swipes it out of the camera’s view. The German Chancellor Merz takes care of the spoon. Can’t have people thinking they are plotting strategy while doing cocaine together.”

The white object was seen on the table as the trio posed for photos. Picture: X/AFP

Mr Macron then picked up the item moving it out of view. Picture: X/AFP

However, French media have shut down the “conspiracy theories”, with publications such as Libération, stating the object was simply a rolled-up handkerchief.

“High-quality photographs and videos, such as those taken by the AFP or AP news agencies, show that the mysterious bag of white powder is actually a handkerchief rolled into a ball that was placed on the table,” Libération wrote in a translated article.

“These conspiracy accusations fit with the narrative that Western elites are depraved and approach war unconsciously.”

The publication noted the second object concealed by Mr Merz - which some have speculated to be a straw or a spoon - was likely a stirrer or a toothpick.

“This explains why the two leaders do not want these objects immortalised in the images of the meeting,” it wrote.

French media shut down the suggestions, claiming higher quality photos (such as above) “show that the mysterious bag of white powder is actually a handkerchief”. Picture: Ludovic Marin/AFP

The white object at centre of the speculation. Picture: Ludovic Marin / AFP

European leaders meet in Ukraine in show of solidarity against Russia

Mr Macron, Mr Merz and Mr Starmer travelled to Ukraine for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The four nations, who are part of an alliance Britain and France have called “the coalition of the willing”, vowed to ratchet up pressure on Russia until it agreed to a ceasefire in the three-year war.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shake hands after their joint press conference in Kyiv. Picture: Genya Savilov/AFP

It was the first time the leaders of the four European nations made a joint visit to Ukraine.

For Mr Merz, who took office only this week, it was his first visit to Ukraine as Chancellor.

Mr Macron had not been to Kyiv since June 2022, when he went with the Italian and German leaders of the time.

The leaders were seen embracing Mr Zelensky and joined him in placing lanterns at a memorial for fallen soldiers in central Kyiv.

“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement.

“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”

They warned: “We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine.”

It was the first time the leaders of the four European nations made a joint visit to Ukraine. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty

The Kremlin has shown no signs of halting its invasion of Ukraine, despite US President Donald Trump pushing for a ceasefire, and warned earlier there could be no truce unless the West halted arms deliveries to Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a 30-day truce proposed by Washington and Kyiv in March, instead declaring two brief pauses in fighting that Ukraine has accused Moscow of violating.

On his way to Kyiv, Mr Macron said that once a 30-day ceasefire was in place, there could be “direct talks between Ukraine and Russia”.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have hinted they are open to negotiating with each other but Mr Zelensky says this would only be possible once a ceasefire takes effect.

Russia has occupied about a fifth of Ukrainian territory since February 2022 and intensified deadly attacks on the country this spring.

The US embassy in Kyiv said on Friday that a “significant air attack” could occur at some point within the next several days.

– With AFP

Originally published as Truth behind viral video of French President Emmanuel Macron and world leaders