A leaked transcript of a phone call between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin shows Orban offering extensive support to Moscow and describing himself as ready to help “in any way” in relation to the war in Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.

The conversation reportedly took place on 17 October last year and, according to the transcript reviewed by Bloomberg, Orban told Putin that their relationship had reached a level where cooperation could extend broadly. “Yesterday our friendship rose to such a high level that I can help in any way. In any matter where I can be of assistance, I am at your service,” he said, also suggesting he could contribute to efforts aimed at settling the war, including by hosting a potential summit in Budapest.

Orban also referred to a Hungarian children’s fable involving a mouse that frees a lion from a net after the lion had previously spared it. The remark was reportedly met with laughter from Putin, according to the transcript. The call also included extensive mutual praise, including references to US President Donald Trump and discussions framed in friendly terms between the two leaders.

During the exchange, Orban highlighted the long-standing nature of his ties with Putin, noting that their relationship began in St Petersburg in 2009. “The more friends we make, the more possibilities we have to resist our adversaries,” he said, also expressing regret that regular in-person meetings had not resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Putin, in turn, praised Hungary’s stance, describing it as “independent and flexible” regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine, and questioning criticism of Budapest’s position. According to the transcript, the main focus of the call was the idea of a possible US-Russia summit hosted in Hungary, although the proposed meeting in Budapest ultimately did not take place.

The leak comes amid broader disclosures involving Hungarian-Russian diplomatic contacts. Earlier reports revealed an intercepted conversation between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In that case, discussions reportedly touched on EU sanctions policy, including lobbying efforts related to the removal of Gulbakhor Ismailova, the sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, from the EU sanctions list. Szijjártó also criticized the EU’s sanctions approach and said he regularly consults with foreign ministers from non-EU countries on sanctions-related matters, while the European Commission previously warned him over sharing sensitive information from EU Council meetings.