'Phantom farter' mystery takes over Zelensky's press briefing at EU summit: ‘Journalists forced to flee’

Sharing the ‘phantom farter’ report on X, political economy analyst and correspondent Shankkar Aiyar described it as "hilarious." A bizarre incident cast a shadow over the high-profile European Union summit in Brussels when journalists waiting for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's press briefing encountered what was described as a "mystery".Sweden's PM Ulf Kristersson, left, meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, Friday. (AP)"While waiting for Volodymyr Zelensky, reporters are trying to solve a mystery: Who keeps farting in the European Council press briefing room," Politico Europe said on X, sharing a report.Also Read | 'We're done': Ukraine's Zelensky says won't follow Trump's demand of no strike on Russian refineries'Who is the phantom farter'Sharing the report on X, political economy analyst and correspondent Shankkar Aiyar described it as "hilarious"."Who is the phantom farter," he wrote, sharing the Politico report in the post."Reporters waiting for President Volodymyr Zelensky in the European Council press briefing room have repeatedly been forced to deal with a fetid farter in their midst," it added.Also Read | Macron slams 'very politicised' EU leader debate on migration"It isn’t the first time either, with several journalists (including this correspondent) forced to flee a diplomatic briefing last night after an eye-watering emission," it continued."Everyone is running on nothing but coffee and the fear of missing out on a briefing, so we suppose it is to be expected. Still, one can’t help but wish the mystery malodorer would take themselves outside and sort it out before people pass out," it further read.Also Read | EU, Gulf leaders postpone Riyadh summit as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia disrupt major eventsSocial media users join inThe comment section of the post turned hilarious when X users continued to share their humour."That writer is obviously the phantom farter. I don’t make the rules," a comment under the post read."Silent but deadly," another user said.Another comment read, "I was nowhere near the place, honest."Also Read | US-Russia diesel deal and the Ukraine warZelensky on US-Russian diesel dealUkrainian President Zelensky on Friday condemned US President Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia, according to Reuters.The US-Russia diesel deal angered Ukraine and its European allies, it said.Meanwhile, he also welcomed the prospect of a greater role in talks for European allies he called "real leaders".The Ukrainian leader told the EU summit in Brussels that Russia did not want peace, the report added.Last weekend, Trump announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read MoreVolodymyr ZelenskyEu SummitEuGet the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.