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'At Your Service': Hungary's Orban Offered Help to Putin, Bloomberg Reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán reportedly offered Russian President Vladimir Putin help—including hosting a Ukraine peace summit in Budapest—saying “I am at your service,” per Bloomberg; the revelation comes amid Orbán's toughest re‑election campaign yet as polls show him trailing ahead of the April 12 v
Hungary’s Orban Tells Putin He Is ‘At Your Service’—Offers to Host Ukraine Summit
Orban’s Offer and Hungary-Russia Relations
Background of Orban’s Offer to Putin
BUDAPEST, April 7 (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban offered last year to help Russian President Vladimir Putin "in any way", such as by hosting a summit in Budapest to settle the war in Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported, citing the transcript of a phone call.
Government and Kremlin Responses
A Hungarian government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment and for the release of the transcript of an October 17 call between the two leaders reviewed by Bloomberg but not verified by Reuters.
There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin.
Political Context in Hungary
Orban, a eurosceptic nationalist in power since 2010, faces his toughest re-election bid of the past 16 years on April 12.
Hungary’s Ties with Russia
Orban has fostered warm ties with Putin despite the Ukraine war, and maintained Hungary's heavy reliance on Russian oil and gas. Citing a dispute with Kyiv over a war-damaged oil pipeline, Orban has also blocked the implementation of a European Union loan to Ukraine agreed back in December.
International Reactions and Summit Plans
The cordial conversation between Orban and Putin took place as U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a second summit on the war in Ukraine to be hosted in the Hungarian capital.
Details from the Orban-Putin Phone Call
In the phone call, Orban calls Putin a friend, noting that their close ties date back to a 2009 meeting in St Petersburg.
"But yesterday our friendship rose to such a high level that I can help in any way — there is a story in our Hungarian picture books where a mouse helps a lion," he tells Putin according to the transcript. "I am ready to help immediately ... In any matter where I can be of assistance, I am at your service."
Putin’s Response and Summit Possibility
Putin tells Orban in response that he values their relations highly and says Budapest would be what he described as "perhaps the only European country that is an acceptable venue" for a possible meeting with Trump.
Hungary at the time said it would ensure that Putin, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, which Orban's government is in the process of leaving, could enter the country for a summit with the U.S. president.
Putin also tells Orban that he greatly appreciates his "independent and flexible" stance on the Ukraine crisis.
Related Developments
The publication of the transcript follows the release of an audio clip by an investigative news outlet that featured Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussing EU sanctions.
(Reporting by Gergely SzakacsEditing by Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •Orbán offered Putin Hungarian assistance—including hosting a summit to negotiate the Ukraine war—and emphasized their friendship, saying, “I am at your service.” (axios.com)
- •The leak of the October 17 call transcript—which Reuters hasn’t independently verified—underscores Orbán’s close ties with Moscow and his role as a potential mediator even as Hungary faces domestic backlash for blocking EU support to Ukraine. (euromaidanpress.com)
- •The timing of the Bloomberg report is politically sensitive: Orbán faces his toughest re‑election bid since 2010 on April 12, with opposition leader Péter Magyar’s Tisza party leading by double digits in most independent polls. (axios.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about 'At your service': Hungary's Orban offered help to Putin, Bloomberg reports
1What did Viktor Orban offer to Vladimir Putin?
Orban offered to help Putin 'in any way', including hosting a summit in Budapest to settle the war in Ukraine.
2Was the transcript of Orban and Putin’s phone call verified?
The transcript was reviewed by Bloomberg but has not been verified by Reuters.
3Why has Hungary blocked the EU loan to Ukraine?
Orban cited a dispute with Kyiv over a war-damaged oil pipeline as the reason for blocking the loan.
4What is Hungary’s stance on Russia amid the Ukraine war?
Hungary has maintained close ties to Russia and relies heavily on Russian oil and gas, despite the Ukraine war.
5How did Putin respond to Orban’s offer?
Putin expressed high value for their relations and suggested Budapest could be an acceptable venue for negotiations.
