Putin, Orbán exchange views on Syrian crisis, Ukraine conflict in phone call

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held a telephone conversation at the initiative of the Hungarian side.

The call addressed a range of issues concerning bilateral trade and economic cooperation, which has been steadily progressing, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Particular attention was given to advancing mutually beneficial projects in the energy sector.

Putin provided Orbán with his assessments of the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The two leaders exchanged views on the crisis, with Orbán expressing his interest in facilitating political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, drawing on his contacts with several Western leaders.

For his part, President Putin outlined his position on the current developments in Ukraine, condemning what he described as the destructive stance of the Ukrainian side, which continues to reject the possibility of a peaceful resolution.

The conversation also covered the tense situation in the Middle East, particularly recent developments in Syria.

In a recent development, Putin personally approved the granting of asylum to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his family, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on December 9.

Peskov stated, “Such decisions cannot be made without the head of state. It was his decision,” but declined to comment further on Assad’s current location.

Reports from Russian state media on December 8 revealed that Assad fled to Moscow as opposition forces captured Syria’s capital. Russia granted him asylum on humanitarian grounds. Assad’s regime, supported by Russia and Iran, has held a tight grip on Syria for nearly 25 years, suppressing human rights and using chemical weapons against civilians amid the ongoing civil war that has devastated the country since 2011.

By Aghakazim Guliyev