Orban bluntly told Putin: “In any matter where I can be useful, I am at your service.” To emphasize his point, he retold Aesop's fable about a mouse that saved a lion caught in a net after it had previously spared its life. This remark caused Putin to laugh, Bloomberg notes.
In turn, Putin spoke with delight about Hungary’s “independent and flexible” position regarding the Russian war against Ukraine. According to him, the Kremlin does not understand why “such a balanced, moderate position” gives rise to counterarguments.
The leaders discussed organizing a meeting in Hungary between Putin and US President Donald Trump. Orban actively lobbied Budapest as the only “acceptable platform” in Europe for negotiations between the United States and the Russian Federation. The mediator in the preparations was to be Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó.
A significant part of the conversation was devoted to compliments addressed to Trump. Putin compared the American president’s working style to a “tank,” while Orban called his approach a “tornado.”
As the publication reported, the conversation ended with both leaders inquiring about each other's health. Putin noted that he goes skiing and knows that Orban plays football. “I’m trying,” Orban replied, laughing and bidding farewell to Putin in Russian.
