Ukraine Forecasts Decade of Vetoes if Orbán Leads UN

Diplomatic friction between Kyiv and Budapest has intensified as the United Nations prepares to select a new leader. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha addressed speculation that Washington is backing Viktor Orbán for the secretary-general role.

Sybiha stated that Orbán would likely utilize the veto power of the position to hold global decisions hostage. The minister predicted this tactic could persist for ten years. He described Orbán as having refined these methods while blocking major European Union votes over the last decade.

The former Hungarian prime minister is currently under consideration by the US administration. Reports indicate that Washington is counting on backing from Beijing and Moscow to secure the appointment. This move follows investigations into whether Orbán might use a UN post to shield himself from legal proceedings in Hungary.

Sybiha proposed a specific countermeasure to manage Orbán’s influence. He suggested inviting the former leader to coffee breaks at critical moments. This approach mirrors a tactic used by EU leaders in late 2023, when they removed Orbán from a meeting room to pass a resolution without his veto.

The strategy relies on isolating the potential UN chief during voting sessions. Sybiha noted that Ukraine possesses extensive experience in this area. He wrote that Kyiv is prepared to share these techniques with the international community.

Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi reported that Orbán is preparing to leave the country if legal action proceeds in Budapest. The diplomatic maneuver aims to limit the damage from a potential appointment while the selection process continues.