After social networking sites were flooded two days ago with sarcastic comments centered on the huge table that brought together French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow, in the wake of the frost in the country, and the fiery tension on its borders with neighboring Ukraine, two sources in the delegation accompanying French President Emmanuel Macron revealed To Archyde.com news agency, Thursday, the secret of the long table, which was summarized in Macron’s refusal to the Kremlin’s request to undergo a Russian examination for Corona upon his arrival To meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putinwhich caused him to sit away from the Russian leader.
Images of Macron and Putin sitting apart at a 4-meter table discussing the Ukraine crisis on Monday shocked observers, prompting some diplomats and others to say Putin might want to send a diplomatic message.
But the two sources familiar with the French president’s health protocol told Archyde.com that Macron found himself faced with two options. Either accept a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab by the Russian authorities, and then allow him to approach Putin, or refuse, forcing him to adhere to strict social distancing rules.
“We know that means not shaking hands and sitting at a long table … but we will not accept them getting the president’s DNA,” one of the sources told Archyde.com, citing security concerns if Macron were to be examined by Russian doctors.
The second source accompanying the French delegation confirmed to Archyde.com that Macron refused to undergo a PCR examination conducted by the Russian authorities. Instead, the source said, Macron underwent a PCR test before leaving France, and then an antibody test, which was conducted by his own doctor upon arrival in Russia.
“The Russians told us that Putin needs to stay in a tight medical bubble,” the second source said.
According to scenes broadcast by Russian television, the two presidents appeared to be seated during the meeting around a very long white table in the Kremlin. Putin recently adopted this method during his meetings with foreign leaders, due to the Corona epidemic.
After that, social networking sites were filled with funny comments, most of which focused on the size of the table that separated the two men, despite the importance of the session they held, which lasted for hours in the Kremlin.
After it ended, Putin announced that he had discussed for hours important issues with his guest, confirming that there had been consensus on a number of points, and he even joked with his guest, drawing a lightning smile on his face.
As for the details that happened on that table, they remained hidden behind the scenes, with the exception of what the two presidents announced during their joint press conference, as well as a list of what they ate, apparently leaked to the media. Russian websites and accounts on Twitter circulated it during the last period, revealing a list of delicious dishes.
7 dishes, most notably prawns soaked in apple juice
The dinner menu showed 7 different dishes of cold and hot foods, most notably the prawns soaked in apple juice and prepared in the oven, in addition to a full meal of silver sturgeon, ravioli filled with spinach, and fish soup prepared from 5 different fish.
It also included dishes of venison with sweet potatoes and cranberries, in addition to ginger syrup.
As for the dessert, it was limited to a tart cake covered with vanilla cream.
It is noteworthy that Macron, who arrived last Monday in Moscow, left it the next day for Kiev, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zalensky, in an effort to defuse the burning crisis between his country and the West on the one hand, and Russia on the one hand.