Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron sat 13ft apart at huge table in crunch Ukraine talks after French president refused to take Covid test ‘over fears of Russia getting his DNA’
- Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin sat 13ft apart at Ukraine talks this week after Covid test row
- Sources close to the French President claimed the Kremlin insisted Mr Macron take a Russian virus test
- But the request sparked security fears that the Russian strongman would then have Mr Macron’s DNA
- Tensions between Western nations and Russia are boiling over amid a standoff over Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron was kept at a distance from Vladimir Putin during their crunch meeting over Ukraine this week because the French President had refused to take a Covid test over fears the Russians would obtain his DNA, it has been claimed.
Pundits were struck by photos of Mr Macron and the Russian President sitting at opposite ends of a 13ft long table to discuss the crisis in eastern Europe on Monday, with some suggesting Mr Putin wanted to send a diplomatic message.
But two sources with knowledge of the French leader’s health protocol said Mr Macron had been asked to take a Covid test by the Kremlin before meeting Mr Putin.
Speaking to the Reuters news agency, the sources claimed that Mr Macron was told either to accept a PCR test conducted by the Russians and be allowed near the dictator, or refuse and abide by more stringent social distancing.
‘We knew very well that meant no handshake and that long table. But we could not accept that they get their hands on the president’s DNA,’ one source said, referring to security concerns if the French leader was tested by Russian doctors.
A Kremlin spokesman did not immediately respond to a message from Reuters seeking comment.
The second source in Mr Macron’s entourage confirmed the French President declined to take a Russian PCR test. The source said he instead took a French PCR test before departure and an antigen test done by his own doctor once in Russia.
‘The Russians told us Putin needed to be kept in a strict health bubble,’ the second source said.
On Thursday, three days after Mr Macron and Mr Putin had their socially-distanced meeting, the Russian leader received Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The two men shook hands, and sat close to each other, divided only by a small coffee table.
Emmanuel Macron was kept at a distance from Vladimir Putin during their crunch meeting over Ukraine this week because the French President had refused to take a Covid test over fears the Russians would obtain his DNA, it has been claimed
Speaking to the Reuters news agency, the sources claimed that Mr Macron was told either to accept a PCR test conducted by the Russians and be allowed near the dictator, or refuse and abide by more stringent social distancing
It comes as Liz Truss clashed with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov over Ukraine as she went to Moscow to demand the regime cool its ‘Cold War rhetoric’.
The Foreign Secretary delivered a tough message that the Kremlin must step back from a ‘disastrous’ invasion of Ukraine during tense talks.
On her first official visit to Moscow she warned that Kiev must not be ‘bullied’, demanding Russia backs up its claims about having ‘no plans’ to breach its neighbour’s border with ‘actions’.
But in discussions and a joint press conference after a lunch of borscht and halibut, anti-democratic bruiser Mr Lavrov launched a series of barbs, dismissing ‘ultimatums and moralising’ from the West and comparing their conversation to a ‘deaf and a mute’.
‘Ideological approaches, ultimatums and moralising is a road to nowhere,’ the notorious political operator said.
In scenes caught on camera he then abruptly stalked off at the end of the press conference, leaving Miss Truss standing alone. He then opened the door for the to accompany him from the room, before a lunch.
She had observed that she had definitely not been mute in their discussions, and urged a ‘diplomatic’ solution.
On Thursday, three days after Mr Macron and Mr Putin had their socially-distanced meeting, the Russian leader received Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The two men shook hands, and sat close to each other
But in what appeared to be a co-ordinated attack a pro-Putin TV host today lashed out at the Foreign Secretary. Vladimir Solovyov accused Ms Truss of ‘behaving in the classic British colonial style’, tweeting: ‘A London official came to the colony to lecture the subjugated natives…’.
A source close to the Foreign Secretary said: ‘Liz delivered some tough and punchy messages — including urging Russia to withdraw troops from the border, engage in meaningful talks, and ultimately respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
‘The talks were testy, but there’s a healthy amount of respect between Liz and Lavrov. She invited him to London in the next few months and he accepted, if the situation allows.’
Boris Johnson embarked on his own trip to NATO HQ in Brussels and then Poland, warning that Europe faces the ‘most dangerous moment for decades’ and the ‘stakes are very high’.
At a joint press conference with NATO general secretary Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the PM said he did not believe Mr Putin had made a final decision on whether to send troops over the border.
But Mr Johnson admitted the signs were not good, insisting that Mr Putin will face a strong response if he does go ahead.
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