Ukraine has accused Hungary of taking seven employees of a state-owned bank hostage in Budapest.
The dispute is the latest clash between the two European neighbours, after Hungary blocked a €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disrupting deliveries of Russian oil.
Writing on X, Sybiha said: “Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage. The reasons are still unknown, as well as their current well-being or the possibility of contacting them.”
The Hungarian government has yet to comment on the accusations.
Oschadbank, Ukraine’s state savings bank, said the employees were carrying $40 million, €35 million and 9kg of gold. GPS data showed the cars near a Hungarian secret services building in Budapest on Friday (6 March), the bank said.
“Oschadbank demands the immediate release of its employees and property and their return to Ukraine,” it added.
The scheduled trip between Austria and Ukraine was “part of regular services between state banks”, Sybiha said. He added that Kyiv had demanded Hungary immediately release the Ukrainian citizens.
“This is state terrorism and racketeering,” he said.
In February, Hungary vetoed a €90 billion EU loan to Kyiv intended to support its 2026–2027 budget and military needs, until oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline resumed.
Hungary is one of only two EU countries still importing Russian oil, along with Slovakia. The Druzhba pipeline is the main route for delivering Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
Deliveries stopped after a 27 January airstrike by Moscow, according to Ukraine. Budapest has blamed Kyiv for failing to restore transit promptly. Ukraine denies the accusation.
Budapest and Bratislava suspended diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine in February over the pipeline dispute. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said shipments would remain blocked until oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline resumed.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 26 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
Russia has called for clarification on whether U.S. President Donald Trump has changed his position on the war in Ukraine following remarks made at the recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
ANEWZ can exclusively report that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Azerbaijan on 1 July.
Germany and Poland are bracing for sweltering conditions as a deadly heatwave that has gripped Western Europe moves east, with temperatures expected to approach 40C over the weekend.
Washington and Tehran accuse each other of breaching last week’s ceasefire as tensions rise around the key shipping route.
Rescue teams and residents in Venezuela are continuing to search for survivors after twin earthquakes killed more than 900 people and left thousands injured.
Burkina Faso has severed diplomatic relations with France, widening a years-long rupture with its former colonial ruler and marking the latest diplomatic break between France and military-led governments in the Sahel.
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