Orban Offered Putin His Help 'in Any Matter' - Bloomberg
In a phone conversation on October 17, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban extended his congratulations to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of his 73rd birthday, celebrated earlier this month. This dialogue, the details of which emerged from a transcript released by the Hungarian government and reviewed by Bloomberg, underscores Hungary's continued support for Russia at the highest levels of government.
During the conversation, Orban remarked that "yesterday our friendship reached such a high level that I can help in any way." He added, "In any matter where I can be of assistance, I am at your service." These statements highlight the Hungarian Prime Minister's readiness to support Russia in any initiatives that may arise.
To illustrate his position, Orban referenced Aesop's fable about a mouse who frees a lion from a net after the lion spares his life. This remark elicited laughter from Putin, indicating a friendly atmosphere during the conversation. Much of the dialogue was dedicated to exchanging compliments between the two leaders, as well as with U.S. President Donald Trump. Orban expressed regret that they could not meet in person regularly as they did before the Covid pandemic, noting that their friendship has strengthened since it began in St. Petersburg in 2009.
Putin, in turn, expressed admiration for Hungary's "independent and flexible" stance regarding his war against Ukraine. According to the transcript, the main purpose of the phone call was to discuss the possibility of a meeting between U.S. and Russian representatives in Hungary, which had been mentioned previously. Putin informed Orban about steps that could lead to this meeting, starting with a potential encounter between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Putin also suggested involving Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in the discussions. However, despite all these discussions, the meeting did not take place. Putin emphasized that Hungary was one of the few, if not the only, European countries suitable as a venue for this meeting, agreeing with Trump’s assessment that it was an appropriate location, given that Orban is a friend of both presidents.
The conversation concluded with inquiries about each other's health, underscoring the personal nature of their relationship. It is important to note that Orban and Putin had a previous phone conversation on March 3, during which the Russian leader praised Hungary's "principled position" regarding Ukraine. They also exchanged views on the implementation of agreements reached during Orban's visit to Moscow on November 28, when they held their 14th meeting.
The relationship between Orban's government and the Kremlin is coming under increasing scrutiny as Hungarians prepare to vote in the elections on April 12. Polls indicate that Orban could be ousted after 16 years in power. Hungary opposes aid to Ukraine, and Orban's campaign portrays President Volodymyr Zelensky as a state enemy. Orban's opponent, opposition leader Peter Magyar, has promised to return Hungary to the European fold and steer it away from Moscow if he wins the election.
Additionally, journalists recently published an investigation suggesting that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reported to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov about steps he was taking to persuade the European Union to lift sanctions on the sister of sanctioned Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, Gulbakhor Ismailova. In response, Szijjarto accused foreign intelligence services of wiretapping his phone.
In light of these events, it is crucial to monitor the further development of relations between Hungary and Russia, as well as the impact of these relations on the political situation in Hungary and Europe as a whole.