Ukraine’s foreign minister has taken a swipe at former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over reports that the US is backing him for the United Nations’ top job, while Poland’s Donald Tusk has also dismissed the rumours with a smile.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has mocked the possibility of Viktor Orbán becoming the next United Nations secretary-general, making a pointed reference to the former Hungarian leader’s record of blocking EU decisions. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also reacted to the reports, describing them as amusing.
The comments followed a report by The Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration is encouraging Orbán to enter the race to replace António Guterres, whose second five-year term as UN secretary-general ends on 31 December.
Details: Could Viktor Orbán become UN Secretary-General? Trump administration reportedly wants him to
The UN was no friend of Orbán – So why is he now linked to its top job?
Ukraine’s foreign minister takes a swipe at Orbán
In a post on X, Sybiha sarcastically suggested that Orbán could put his political skills to good use on the international stage.
“I am certain that Viktor Orbán, as UN Secretary-General, would put to good use the masterful veto and blackmail skills he has developed over years of derailing major EU decisions,” the Ukrainian foreign minister wrote.
He added that Ukraine could share its experience with the rest of the world of taking Orbán out for coffee at the right moment.
The remark referred to an incident in December 2023, when Orbán left the European Council meeting room during a vote on opening EU accession negotiations with Ukraine. At the suggestion of then-German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Hungarian prime minister went for coffee while the other EU leaders approved the move.
I am certain that Viktor Orbán, as UN Secretary-General, would put to good use the masterful veto and blackmail skills he has developed over years of derailing major EU decisions. We can share with the rest of the world our great experience of taking him out for coffee at the right moment.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) October 26, 2026
Tusk laughs off the reports
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also responded to the speculation when questioned by Politico on Monday. According to the outlet, Tusk smiled when asked about the possibility of Orbán becoming the next UN chief and said he had not heard about the proposal.
“Just a moment ago, he was a candidate for president of the European Commission. This seems to me just as funny as that first rumour,” Tusk said.
His remark referred to an earlier rumour about Orbán becoming president of the European Commission, which Tusk also treated with scepticism.
Could Orbán become the next UN secretary-general?
The speculation began after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration supports Orbán as a potential candidate for the UN’s top diplomatic position. According to the report, the former Hungarian leader could emerge as a compromise candidate with support from the United States, Russia and China.
Orbán was one of US President Donald Trump’s closest political allies in the European Union. Trump publicly endorsed him, calling him a “true friend”, while US Vice President JD Vance travelled to Hungary to campaign for him ahead of the April 2026 election.
However, Orbán suffered a decisive defeat in that election, losing power to Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party. His departure from office was welcomed in Brussels, where his repeated clashes with EU institutions had made him a controversial figure.
A potential UN candidacy would also mark a striking reversal of Orbán’s earlier position. In 2018, he criticised defeated politicians who took up positions at the United Nations, describing their ambitions as “aberrant”.