Orban Offers Putin Budapest Summit, Faces Toughest Re-election

0:00It's April 7th. This is Global News Today, your AI-powered source for world news. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán straight-up offered to help Vladimir Putin in any way possible last year, including hosting a summit in Budapest to end the Ukraine war. This comes from a leaked transcript of their October 17 phone call reported by Bloomberg News. In the chat, Orbán called Putin a longtime friend from back in 2009 and pledged immediate support on anything. Putin praised their bond and said, Budapest might be the only spotting European feel good about for a sit-down with, then, President Donald Trump. Orbán's been tight with Russia since taking power in 2010, keeping Hungary hooked on their oil and gas while blocking an EU loan package. For Ukraine, over a pipeline beef, now he's spacing his toughest re-election fight in 16 years on April 12th. The call lined up with plans for that second Trump Putin summoned Hungary, where they'd make sure Putin could roll in despite an international.

1:01Criminal court arrest Warren, Hungary's even pulling out of that court. Plus, a fresh audio-lead just dropped of Orbán's foreign minister, talking sanctions with his Russian counterpart. All this highlights Orbán's independent play in Europe amid the war, stirring up more questions as his election heats up. Stay tuned for how it shakes out.