Macron's office issues statement on cocaine row: 'When European unity becomes inconvenient...'

French President Emmanuel Macron 's office has issued a scornful statement after he was accused of hiding a cocaine pouch on his way to Ukraine, where he was accompanied by German chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs,” Macron’s office said in a statement, accusing France’s enemies of trying to undermine European unity.

“This fake news is being spread by France’s enemies, both abroad and at home. We must remain vigilant against manipulation,” the statement continued, without specifying the enemy countries.

“This is a tissue. For blowing your nose," it said.

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

Russia spreads cocaine hoax

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot accused Russia of being "desperate" to prevent peace in Ukraine. "You are now propagating blatant hoaxes. This is irresponsible -- and lame."

He noted in his post on X that the disinformation has been spread by both Zakharova and Kirill Dmitriev, the senior Russian official who is the point man for talks with the United States on Ukraine.

Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation accused Russia of seeking to discredit the initiatives backed by the European leaders to end the three-year-long conflict sparked by Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"This shameful incident speaks volumes about the current 'level' of Russian diplomacy, which has long devolved into a tool of disinformation," it said.

'If it were a tissue'

The statement did not put the rumors to rest as social media users asked why Macron was seen hiding the white thing if it was a tissue. "Why is the tissue plastic and shiny," one user asked.

"It wasn’t the tissue that was the issue. It was the way Macron picked it up and hid it that raised suspicions. Nobody would do what he did if it was just a piece of tissue," one wrote.