Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv demands the immediate return of funds and valuables belonging to the state-owned Oschadbank that were detained by Hungarian authorities along with two armored banking vehicles.
Sybiha said this in a statement on social media.
According to the minister, it has now been three days since Hungarian authorities stopped two Ukrainian armored banking vehicles that were transiting from Austria and seized the money and precious metals they were transporting.
“These funds do not belong to Hungary or its government; they belong to Ukraine’s state bank, Oschadbank, and therefore to Ukrainian taxpayers,” the minister said.
Sybiha stressed that Ukraine demands the immediate return of the funds and called on European countries to condemn Budapest’s actions.
“We demand their immediate return and urge Europe-wide condemnation of this unprecedented act of state banditry and racketeering,” he wrote.
The foreign minister also encouraged European partners to publicly speak out on the situation.