President Macron Rejects COVID-19 Test While Visiting Moscow, Here's How Russia Protects President Putin

President Putin sat far from President Macron when he met in Moscow earlier this week. (Source: Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - Russia does not want to take risks regarding the health condition of Russian President Vladimir Putin when he received a working visit from his colleague, French President Emmanuel Macron, who refused to undergo a COVID-19 test because he was afraid that his DNA would be stolen.

French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the Kremlin's request for him to take Russia's COVID-19 test when he arrived to meet President Vladimir Putin this week to prevent Russia from obtaining Macron's DNA, two sources in Macron's entourage told Reuters.

As a result, the visiting French head of state was kept away from the Russian leader during lengthy talks about the Ukraine crisis in Moscow.

They were photographed at opposite ends of the table for so long that it sparked satirical comments on social media and speculation, including by diplomats, that President Putin might be using it to send a powerful message.

However, two sources with knowledge of the French president's health protocols told Reuters President Macron had been given a choice: accept the PCR tests carried out by Russian authorities and be allowed to approach Putin. Or refuse and have to adhere to stricter social rules, distancing him from President Putin.

"We know very well that it means no handshakes and long tables. However, we cannot accept them getting the president's DNA", one of the sources told Reuters, referring to safety concerns if the French leader were tested for COVID-19 by Russian doctors, reported Reuters on February 11.

President Macron with President Putin (Source: Kremlin.ru)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed President Macron had rejected the test and said Russia had no problem with this, but that it meant a distance of 6 meters (20 feet) from President Putin was necessary to protect the health of the Kremlin leader.

"There is no politics in this, it does not interfere with negotiations in any way", Peskov said.

A second source in President Macron's entourage said he chose to take a French PCR test before departure, as well as an antigen test that was carried out by his own doctor once in Russia.

"Russia is telling us President Putin needs to be kept in a tight health bubble", said a second source.

Meanwhile, President Macron's Office said Russia's health protocols "seem to us neither acceptable nor compatible with our diary limits", referring to the length of time it takes to wait for the results.

When asked specifically about DNA theft, the office said: "The president has a doctor who determines what is acceptable or not in his own health protocol."

For comparison, three days after meeting President Macron, last Thursday President Putin received Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The two men shook hands and sat close together, only separated by a small coffee table.