The administration of Donald Trump is reportedly considering former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the position of UN secretary-general. Orbán, widely known for his Russia-friendly views, was allegedly encouraged by the United States to enter the race. According to reports, the initiative came directly from the American side.

A US State Department representative admitted that the proposal may initially sound unusual. However, based on preliminary contacts with Washington, Russia and China are said to be open to backing the idea, potentially making Orbán their joint candidate.

Sources familiar with the discussions say that when the United States, Russia, and China act together in the UN Security Council, they are generally able to secure the outcome they want.

According to one State Department official, Orbán could count “with confidence” on eight votes in the Security Council and may ultimately receive the support of 10 out of its 15 members.

It remains unclear whether the United Kingdom and France would challenge the majority position, as both countries have traditionally been cautious about using their veto powers.

Donald Trump supported Viktor Orbán during Hungary’s April election, while J. D. Vance took part in Orbán’s campaign efforts. If Orbán formally seeks the UN role, they are expected to support him again. One source familiar with the matter said that any official announcement may be delayed until after the US midterm elections. An American official described Orbán as an “ideal MAGA-style conservative candidate.”

US representatives reportedly contacted Orbán directly to ask whether he would be interested in a role at the United Nations. He expressed interest but made it clear that he would not launch a campaign unless he was confident of winning.

As one representative of another country put it, most other candidates for secretary-general are “secretaries” — people with backgrounds in international institutions, administrative bodies, or behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Orbán, by contrast, was described as “a general.”

Critics argue that the strongest case for nominating Orbán is that it would remove any remaining illusions: the UN would receive a leader matching the low level to which the organization itself has allegedly fallen.

Russia’s ambitions in international politics

A three-way meeting involving the leaders of the United States, Russia, and China has also been discussed. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry warned that such talks could only strengthen Vladimir Putin’s determination to continue the war against Ukraine. Reports suggest that Putin has not abandoned his central objective of restoring influence across the continent and reasserting Russia’s status as a major power. A meeting in China could become an important step toward that goal.

Separate reports state that Vladimir Putin may use a new round of peace negotiations on Ukraine to press for NATO’s borders to be rolled back to their 1997 position and for Alliance forces to leave five member states.