According to sources, Putin is “kept in a strict medical bubble.”

Macron, in response to the ultimatum, decided to distance himself from Putin / photo: REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron refused the Kremlin’s request to undergo a Russian COVID-19 test when he visited President Vladimir Putin and was therefore kept at a distance from the Russian leader.

This was reported to Reuters by two sources close to Macron.

The network was amazed by the pictures in which Macron and Putin are sitting at opposite ends of a 4-meter table, discussing the crisis around Ukraine. Some diplomats suggest that Putin was trying to send a diplomatic message in this way.

But two sources familiar with the French president’s health protocol told Reuters that Macron had a choice: either he would agree to a PCR test conducted by Russian authorities or he would refuse and be forced to practice stricter social distancing.

“We knew very well that it meant no handshake and this long table. But we couldn’t let them get their hands on the president’s DNA,” one of the sources told Reuters, citing security concerns if the French leader was tested by Russian doctors. 

A second source close to Macron confirmed that Macron refused to take the Russian PCR test. The source said Macron instead took a French PCR test before leaving and an antigen test done by his own doctor in Russia.

“The Russians have told us that Putin needs to be kept in a strict medical bubble,” a second source said.

Recall that the talks between the two leaders were followed not only by the press, but also by millions of social media users. The latter were most interested in the “special” table at which the presidents negotiated.

The unprecedented length of the table prompted users to create hundreds of memes.

(C)UNIAN 2022