On February 10 and 11, 2025, an AI Action summit dedicated to the development of artificial intelligence took place in Paris. It was attended by representatives from more than 60 countries. The two-day event concluded with signing of a declaration for open, inclusive, and ethical use of artificial intelligence. The US and UK declined signing it arguing that strict regulation could destroy the technology.
While reporting on the event, Russian and Belarusian media noted that at the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron did not shake hands with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Associated Press footage captured the moment when French President Emmanuel Macron ignored Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the AI summit in Paris and did not shake his hand. […] Macron, as shown in the broadcast, greeted other participants at the summit," BelTA reported on February 11, citing RIA Novosti.
Among other Russian media outlets that published this same information were Argumenty i Fakty and RBC. ZhS Premium Telegram channel's editors used an RBC's video in a post with a similar caption:
"The footage shows French President Emmanuel Macron greeting U.S. Vice President JD Vance, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He was even spotted exchanging slobbery kisses with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet snubbing India’s Prime Minister."
The video does indeed show Emmanuel Macron walking right past India’s Prime Minister when greeting summit participants.
That same day, the editors of the Nevolfovich Telegram channel published a very similar-sounding post.
The WTF team found the original Associated Press video. When watched from the start, it clearly shows that Macron and Modi arrived at the summit together, as co-chairs of the event.
After the summit, Macron hosted a private dinner for Prime Minister Modi, and they visited Marseille together to open an Indian Consulate General. The Indian press described the relationship between the two leaders as ‘excellent’.
