The Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili articulated her strong objections regarding the handshake between the EU Ambassador and the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs, describing it as "outrageous." In a post on the X Platform, Zourabichvili emphasized that her initial action during the meeting was a vigorous protest against the handshake, asserting, "What is not said is that I started by vigorously protesting the outrageous handshake between the EU Ambassador and the de facto MFA… praising me does not compensate!"

On December 10, EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski hosted President Zourabichvili alongside Ambassadors from EU Member States. The day prior, on December 9, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili met with EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski.