Russia will consider former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for United Nations (U.N.) secretary-general if he is nominated, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, responding to reports of a possible U.S.-backed candidacy.
Peskov said the subject had not been raised during the Oct. 9 phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He told reporters, “If such a candidate emerges, they will also be considered.”
The Wall Street Journal’s Opinion section reported Oct. 25 that Trump administration officials had encouraged Orban to consider the post. Its account cited officials in three countries who confirmed that Washington had raised the possibility, and described Orban as a potential joint candidate backed by the United States, Russia and China. The Journal said the proposal remained undecided.
An earlier EconoTimes report on the U.N. candidate roster said Orban was not listed while nominations continued. Peskov’s remarks set out Russia’s condition for considering him; they did not announce a Russian endorsement or a formal candidacy.
