Hungary's Orbán offers Putin to be 'mouse' helping Russian 'lion'
Photo: Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán (Getty Images)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán offered Vladimir Putin all necessary assistance to resolve the war in Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.
"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," Orbán told Putin, according to a transcript reviewed by Bloomberg.
To emphasize this point, Orbán cited a children’s fable about a mouse that frees a lion from a trap.
The brief conversation between Orbán and Putin, which took place on October 17 and whose content is being reported for the first time, provides further evidence that Russia’s assistance to an EU country is a policy that originates at the very top of the government.
The two politicians spent much of the discussion expressing their gratitude to one another, as well as to Donald Trump.
During the conversation, Orbán also described his friendship with Putin as one that has grown stronger since it began in the Russian leader’s hometown, St. Petersburg, in 2009.
"The more friends we make, the more possibilities we have to resist our adversaries," said the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Putin was also reportedly impressed by Hungary’s independent and flexible stance on his war against Ukraine.
Does Putin support Orbán?
Russia has secretly launched a disinformation campaign in Hungary to bolster Viktor Orbán’s position ahead of the April 12 election.
The campaign has two goals: to boost Orbán’s approval ratings and to destroy the reputation of his rival, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, which is ahead of Fidesz in the polls. Orbán is portrayed as a strong leader with global friends, while Mátyás is depicted as a “Brussels puppet with no external support.”
Vladimir Putin instructed political strategists and military intelligence to interfere in the Hungarian elections to ensure the victory of incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his party.
