Fact check: Viral video of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Zelenskyy is edited

A viral video circulating on social media falsely claims that Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf refused to shake hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and that Zelenskyy spat toward the monarch. The footage, which stems from a meeting in Lviv on April 17, 2026, was edited to cut off before the leaders actually greeted one another.

Fuller video footage and photographs from the event confirm that the two leaders did shake hands multiple times. While some social media posts suggested a breach of protocol or disrespectful behavior, the complete recordings show the handshake occurring immediately after the moment captured in the edited clip.