Greenpeace activists made headlines on Monday by taking a wax statue of French President Emmanuel Macron from the Grévin Museum in Paris. The activists transported the statue to the Russian embassy, where they staged a protest against ongoing business ties between France and Russia, as well as Macron's climate policies.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET). In a statement, Greenpeace described the action as a "borrowing" of the statue, which is part of a collection featuring over 200 notable figures. The group expressed that Macron should not be displayed in such a prestigious institution until he ends French contracts with Russia and commits to a sustainable ecological transition across Europe.

At the Russian embassy, the activists positioned the statue in front of banners criticizing the continued trade with Moscow, particularly in gas, nuclear power, and chemical fertilizers. One protester held a sign reading "business is business" behind the statue, which depicts a smiling Macron clapping his hands. Another banner proclaimed, "Ukraine is burning, business goes on."

Despite European nations pledging to reduce their reliance on Russian energy, many have struggled to cut imports. Research from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed that France was the largest importer of Russian fossil fuels among EU countries in January, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports amounting to 377 million euros (approximately $430 million).

Greenpeace also criticized France's ongoing nuclear fuel import contracts with the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom. Roger Spautz, an energy transition campaigner at Greenpeace France, stated, "Emmanuel Macron must abandon his nuclear revival. To persist on this path is to persist in a dangerous dependence on hostile regimes like Russia, and to continue financing the industry of a criminal regime."

He added, "There is no sovereignty, no energy transition, and no peace possible with Vladimir Putin’s uranium. It is time to put an end to this double standard and turn the page on nuclear power, once and for all."

The organization further condemned what it termed "Macron’s double-talk," which they believe fails to adequately address trade with Russia, despite his public support for Ukraine. Greenpeace asserted that this ambiguous stance undermines France’s credibility on the international stage and contributes to funding the Kremlin's military efforts.

As of now, Greenpeace has not disclosed the current location of the statue or whether it will be returned to the Grévin Museum. Both the museum and Macron’s office have been contacted for comments regarding the incident.