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← All fact checksMorning run · October 24, 2026 · #2 by reach
PoliticsConflictMiscaptioned mediaResurfaced

Did Zelensky spit at King Carl XVI Gustaf?

Does a viral video show Zelensky spitting toward the feet of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf after the king refused to shake his hand?

False

Zelensky and King Carl XVI Gustaf shook hands during their meeting.

The claim that President Zelensky spat at King Carl XVI Gustaf after a handshake refusal is false; they actually shook hands during their meeting in Lviv on April 17, 2026.

+4Sources ↓Original post ↗
Edited
The post as it circulated, labelled by our media check.Video · 0:19 · 1280×720

Claims

✕ 1 false

The King of Sweden refused to shake President Volodymyr Zelensky's hand during their meeting in Lviv.12345

✕ FalseCentral claimHigh confidence

The core claim regarding the handshake refusal is false, backed by strong evidence from multiple independent sources. The event took place during King Carl XVI Gustaf's visit to Lviv on April 17, 2026. Official and credible footage clearly shows the two leaders shaking hands, contradicting the truncation seen in the viral video, which has been edited to create a misleading impression. The edited clip omits essential context.

President Volodymyr Zelensky spat toward the king's feet as an insult.126

– UnverifiableLow confidence

There is no substantiated evidence supporting the claim that Zelensky spat towards the king's feet. While the viral clip implies this action, it neither captures this nor provides sufficient evidence in the longer footage. Various fact-checkers assert that the original footage is edited, but definitive proof of intentional spitting remains elusive.

What was posted

X

A video on Twitter suggests that President Zelensky spat at King Carl XVI Gustaf's feet after the king allegedly refused to shake hands. The caption states that the king stared in disbelief, and online debates question the authenticity of Zelensky’s action.

“Zelensky appears to spit toward feet of Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf after the king refused to shake his hand Carl XVI Gustaf just stared in disbelief The internet is now debating whether Zelensky really spat or not”

Who posted it

X
@rt_com

3.5M followers · Account 17 years old

View the account on X ↗

Account check

Looks like a genuine account90%
Likelihood of automation10%

Estimates from public signals — account age, posting pattern, audience — not a judgement of the person behind the account, and separate from whether this post is true.

What stood out

  • Account handle '@RT_com' matches the official Twitter handle of RT, a state-funded international news organization.
  • Account has 3.54 million followers as of October 2026, indicating significant public interest and engagement.
  • Account joined Twitter in August 2009, suggesting a long-standing presence on the platform.
  • Account has been mentioned by 383 other accounts, with 1,791 total mentions, indicating active participation in discussions.
  • Account has a Twitter Score of 43 out of 1000, ranking #22,110 among 498,348 crypto accounts tracked by TwitterScore.io, placing it in the top 5%.
Signals (3)+
Posting cadence
High
Notable news coverage
RT is a state-funded international news organization with a significant global presence.
Fact check history
RT has been subject to fact-checking and scrutiny due to its state-funded nature and coverage of various global events.

Account checked October 24, 2026, 02:51 UTC

The media

Video
EditedPresented as real footage· The claim depends on it

✓ What is genuine

The original footage of the handshake between Zelensky and King Carl XVI Gustaf is genuine, as confirmed by independent sources.

The tells

  • ●●● Strong signal The video cuts off before the handshake, which creates ambiguity.our visual review
  • ●○○ Weak signal The source is primarily from Russian channels, raising credibility concerns.our visual review
  • ●●○ Supporting signal The framing focuses on the alleged spitting, not the handshake.our visual review

Synthetic-media detector

Detector ran

The claim stands or falls on whether the media is real, so the detector ran.

AI-generated likelihood1%
Deepfake likelihood0%

Scores are the detector’s estimate for the file as uploaded. A low score does not rule out editing, a spliced caption, or footage shown out of context — those are judged above. Model v3.

How we checked the media

  • We analyzed the video and found it had been edited to remove crucial context.
  • We compared the viral clip against longer, official footage from multiple reputable sources.

Sources

7 sources reviewed

Further reading

  • 1AFP The AFP article details the full footage and clarifies the handshake context.
  • 2Lead Stories Lead Stories analyzes the edited nature of the viral video versus the complete event.
  • 6Teyit Teyit delves into the implications of the viral claim and provides insights into the original footage.

The full story

On April 17, 2026, during a visit to Lviv, Ukraine, King Carl XVI Gustaf met with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Their handshake was part of a public display reinforcing diplomatic relations. Later, a truncated version of their encounter surfaced, focusing only on the moments following the handshake. This clip implied that the king had refused to shake hands and suggested that Zelensky spat at the king's feet, which sparked widespread debate online. However, comprehensive footage from reliable news outlets, including AFP and Reuters, documented their handshake, countering these implications. Fact-checkers (including AFP and Lead Stories) revealed that the edited nature of the viral clip misrepresents a cordial meeting, transforming it into an insult through selective editing. This manipulation highlights the ease with which context can be lost in brief clips shared online, especially in politically charged narratives.

Kernel of truth

The handshaking event and subsequent meeting did occur, but the interpretation of those events has been misrepresented in viral media.

Timeline

  1. April 17, 2026

    King Carl XVI Gustaf visits Lviv and meets President Zelensky, shaking hands. 5Office of the President of Ukraine

  2. October 24, 2026

    False claim goes viral regarding the handshake refusal and spitting incident. 1AFP

How it was framed

False connection

The claim creates a misleading narrative by connecting genuine, unrelated content (the handshake) with false assertions (snubbing and spitting).

  • Emotional language. The caption implies a dramatic confrontation, enhancing viewer emotional response.
  • Missing context. The viral clip omits the handshake, misrepresenting the interaction.

Bias

NoneSlightModerateStrong

Leans pro-Russian/state-aligned. The clip was shared by RT and similar Russian/state-aligned outlets in a way that amplifies a negative narrative about Zelensky and Western leaders; fact-checkers say the footage was edited to imply a snub and insult.

Bias describes how the post frames its message — the slant of the language, selection and emphasis — and is judged separately from whether the claim is true. A true claim can still be framed with a strong slant.

How we checked

1 min 13 s
  1. 1

    We searched for the phrase 'Zelensky spat on King Carl XVI Gustaf video' across multiple platforms.

  2. 2

    We reviewed official reports and media from the April 17, 2026 meeting.

  3. 3

    We examined fact-checks from recognized sources to corroborate the story.

  4. 4

    We analyzed the full videos compared to the viral clip.

✓ Claim checked✓ Media checked✓ Sources checked

Why 86% confidence

High

The confidence is HIGH due to the corroboration from multiple independent sources, confirming that the handshake occurred and the manipulation of the video.

Limits. We could not ascertain any direct eyewitness accounts of the moment beyond existing video evidence.

Spot it yourself

Spot the fake

Looks suspicious, isn’t proof

  • The video is low quality, suggesting potential manipulation.
  • Partisan sources amplify the narrative, making the claim suspect.
  • The framing of the violent confrontation language raises doubts about legitimacy.

The actual evidence

  • Full, unedited videos from reputable sources show the handshake occurring.
  • Multiple fact-checking agencies confirmed the viral video is misleading.
  • The altered segment creates a false narrative of discord.
  1. 1

    Check the source of the video.

    Look for reputable news organizations covering the same event.

  2. 2

    Find official clips from the event.

    Search for longer versions of the video on authoritative channels.

  3. 3

    Investigate context around emotional claims.

    Examine accompanying statements and check if they align with recorded events.

Takeaway

Always seek the complete context before forming a judgement on events presented in bite-sized clips. Viral clips often lack crucial details that can change interpretations of incidents.

Questions people ask

What is the original context of the video?+

The video clips stem from an official visit where King Carl XVI Gustaf met with President Zelensky, including a confirmed handshake.

Why is the claim misleading?+

The viral clip omits crucial moments, making it appear as if there was a refusal and an insult, which is not supported by evidence.

What did official sources report?+

Official sources confirmed that both the handshake and subsequent events during the meeting happened as depicted in the full footage.

Go deeper

Fact-checking
The process of verifying claims to determine their accuracy.
Viral video
A video that is rapidly shared and viewed online, often focusing on sensational content.
Manipulation
Changing or altering content to mislead viewers.

People also search for

Did Zelensky spit at the King of Sweden?Zelensky King Carl XVI Gustaf spitting videoHandshake refusal between Zelensky and the KingZelensky spitting incident explainedWhat happened between Zelensky and King Carl?
For educators+
Media literacy and critical thinkingThe impact of editing on perceptionThe importance of source verification
  • How does editing change the context of a video?
  • What strategies can you use to verify claims made in viral content?
  • Why is it important to check multiple sources before believing a story?

About this check

Platform
X
Posted by
@rt_com
Posted
October 22, 2026
Age when checked
1–2 days old when checked
Where it spread
Ukraine, SE, United Kingdom
Audience
International audience
Language
EN
Status
● Post is live
Verified
October 24, 2026, 02:53 UTC
Published
October 24, 2026, 02:53 UTC

Reach. At least 3.7M views, 12,000 likes, 2,500 quote posts per IBTimes UK; verify.py shows 13,962 likes; @DanielMacl1n copy 45.7K likes (X syndication)

This verdict was generated with AI from the sources shown. AI can make mistakes — check the sources before relying on it.

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