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.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime ca...
Iran struck eastern Syria on Friday, Iranian state media and a Syrian military source said, in the first known attack by Tehran on Syrian territory si...
Apple is closing in on Nvidia's position as the world's most valuable publicly traded company, as investors increasingly bet the iPhone maker can turn...
On 17 July, AnewZ's Daybreak focused on renewed U.S. strikes on Iran, the suspension of one of President Donald Trump's teleprompter aides and Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appointment of an acting defence minister.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has nominated the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Yevhenii Khmara, to serve as acting defence minister. It follows rare protests across Ukraine on Thursday after Zelenskyy dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a government reshuffle.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for a renewed round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks during a two-day visit to Kyiv, as Ankara seeks to revive its role as a mediator and advance efforts towards a negotiated end to the war.
Keir Starmer has reaffirmed that the UK's "unwavering" support for Ukraine will continue, during his final visit to the country as Prime Minister.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
Japan's parliament has approved changes to the Imperial House Law aimed at addressing the shrinking size of the imperial family while preserving the country's centuries-old male-only succession system.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
At least 20 children and one adult have been killed after a school bus carrying pupils on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda. Dozens of other passengers were injured when the vehicle reportedly lost control and overturned.
North Korean state media called South Korea a “puppet” over its participation in a U.S.-led maritime exercise, warning that Seoul and Washington would bear responsibility for any “unpredictable escalation” in the region.
The U.S. will impose new 25% tariffs on Brazilian imports, including furniture, ethanol, machinery, footwear and sugar. The move launches a new wave of tariffs that could eventually affect dozens of countries.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment