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.

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.

Orban, a eurosceptic nationalist in power since 2010, faces his toughest re-election bid of the past 16 years on April 12.

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.

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.

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 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.

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)