Emmanuel Macron's office has pushed back against claims he had a bag of cocaine during a trip to Ukraine. Rumours spread on social media after the French president was filmed removing a crumpled, white item from a table as he met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz on a train on Saturday.

The Elysée Palace insisted the item was a tissue in a post on its official X account. 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."

Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was among those spreading the claims online.

She shared the video, claiming "they forgot to put away their paraphernalia" before journalists arrived in the carriage.

Downing Street has joined the Elysée Palace in dismissing the claim as "fake news".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We obviously don't know who's behind that particular misinformation.

"But we've obviously seen attempts like this in the past, particularly emanating from the Russian state, as it increasingly becomes more desperate in relation to to the war in Ukraine."

He added: "I don't plan on commenting any further on obviously fake news such as this."

Russia has long been accused of spreading fake news through disinformation campaigns targeting Ukraine's allies.

Social media accounts which support Russia are known to amplify stories on divisive issues such as immigration.

Campaigns linked to Russia have sought to undermine support for Ukraine, interfere in elections and discredit democratic institutions.

Artificial intelligence has boosted the volume of Russian linked posts seeking to manipulate public opinion.

One major culprit is the so-called Doppelganger group, which was linked to spreading false rumours about the Princess of Wales.

In March last year, the group was accused of amplifying a wave of rumours and fake claims about Princess Kate when she was out of public view amid health problems.

The UK Foreign Office warned of a "vast malign" online network aimed at causing disruption and confusion, distributing fake news and undermining democracy.