The key facts
- Sybiha said Orban could apply in the UN the «veto and blackmail skills» he honed in the European Union
- According to The Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is considering nominating Orban, counting on the support of Russia and China
- Sybiha recalled the December 2023 episode when, per Politico, Scholz suggested Orban step out for coffee during the discussion of Ukraine's EU accession
A sarcastic comment from Ukraine's minister
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after reports emerged about his possible nomination for the post of UN Secretary-General. On the social network X, he wrote that in that post Orban «would be able to put his virtuoso veto and blackmail skills to good use — the very ones he spent years honing by blocking important decisions in the European Union» (Life.ru).
A reference to the coffee episode
Sybiha also recalled the EU summit in December 2023, when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested Orban step out of the meeting room for a cup of coffee, so that the other EU leaders could agree on the start of Ukraine's accession talks. «And we could pass on our rich experience to the rest of the world: how to suggest he step out for a cup of coffee at just the right moment,» the Ukrainian minister added. According to Politico, cited by Life.ru, the suggestion came after several hours of fruitless negotiations and made it possible to adopt the decision without the Hungarian side's participation.
Context: a possible nomination with Washington's backing
The comment was prompted by media reports that the administration of US President Donald Trump is considering promoting Orban to the post of UN Secretary-General. As The Wall Street Journal writes, cited by Life.ru, Washington hopes to secure the support of Russia and China. The outlet also notes that obstacles on Orban's path to the post are being discussed, but the publication does not disclose the details of these assessments. The editorial team emphasizes: no official decision on the nomination has been announced, and Sybiha's statement reflects the Ukrainian side's position, not confirmation of Washington's plans.
Why it matters
The situation concerns the formation of the UN leadership — an organization whose decisions matter to both Ukraine and Hungary as EU members. The practical significance of Sybiha's comment is that it signals in advance the likelihood of Kyiv opposing Orban's candidacy, given Hungary's record of blocking decisions on Ukraine within the European Union, as Life.ru writes. For now, the status of the nomination remains uncertain: only media reports about the Trump administration considering the option are known.
