Sybiha Teases Coffee Break Tactic to Manage Orbán at the UN

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha outlined a strategy for managing Viktor Orbán at the United Nations. Sybiha posted on X that he is confident Orbán would use veto power and blackmail tactics if appointed secretary-general. He noted that Orbán has spent years using these skills to block major decisions in the European Union.

Sybiha joked that Ukraine could share its experience with the rest of the world. He referenced an incident at a late 2023 EU summit where Orbán left the meeting room. This absence allowed other EU leaders to approve the start of Ukraine’s accession negotiations without a Hungarian veto. The foreign minister suggested inviting Orbán for coffee at the right moment to achieve a similar result at the UN.

The comments follow a report from The Wall Street Journal that the US administration is pushing for Orbán’s nomination. The report indicated that Washington expects support from China and Russia for the former prime minister. In May, investigative journalists found that some members of the MAGA wing of the US Republican Party considered a UN appointment as a way to shield Orbán from prosecution in Hungary.

Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi stated that Orbán is preparing to move to the United States if legal action begins in his home country. Sybiha’s remarks offer a specific diplomatic approach to handling a potential rival in the UN Security Council. The foreign minister’s plan relies on replicating a successful EU maneuver to limit Orbán’s influence during critical votes.