Zakharova claimed a "two chair policy" after Macron and Lavrov's handshake

French President Emmanuel Macron at the G20 summit did what is called "the policy of two chairs". This is how Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the handshake between French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 20 on Sputnik radio.

"Perhaps this is what many people call, looking at the current Elysee Palace, the politics of two chairs," Zakharova said.

She emphasized that Lavrov in this case acted like a real diplomat.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also told about the reaction to Macron's act of her French acquaintance: the next day he perplexedly asked her why the French leader, who every day shows hatred toward Russia and makes "monstrous decisions," shakes hands with its representative.

Lavrov himself, commenting on his handshake with the French president during the press conference, said that it is normal for people who know each other to shake hands in public, despite the deep contradictions between them and the countries they represent.

The day before, on November 19, Bloomberg reported that Macron shook hands with Lavrov at the G20 summit. According to the publication, the French leader independently sought out a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro is held from November 18 to 19, Russia was represented by Lavrov. In the already adopted final declaration, the participants of the meeting welcomed all constructive initiatives to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Kiev amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.