Hungary Demands Answers Over Seized Ukrainian Gold and Cash
Hungary 'demands answers' over seized Ukrainian gold and cash as Kyiv accuses Budapest of 'hostage' situation – as it happened
Balázs Orbán, the political director in PM Viktor Orbán's office, said Hungary will 'demand answers from Ukraine's leadership' over 'who stands behind this money and what is it meant to finance.'
Posting pictures of the money and gold allegedly transported by the Ukrainian bank delegation, he said that 'Hungarian authorities have launched a full investigation' into the incident, looking into possible money laundering offences.
'The case has been registered under articles on illegal deprivation of liberty/kidnapping and hostage-taking,' the Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.
Ukraine's National Police has opened 'criminal proceedings' into what it says was a 'hostage' situation involving the seven employees and the two vehicles of Oschadbank stopped by Hungary.
Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini expressed solidarity with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán over recent comments from Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The far-right Alternative für Deutschland co-chair Alice Weidel also reposted Orbán's social media post with a brief comment condemning Zelenskyy's words.
Slovak prime minister Robert Fico offered his support last night, as the dispute between Hungary and Ukraine escalates.
The European Commission has welcomed the news on the Icelandic referendum on EU accession talks, saying 'a significant decision lies ahead for the Icelandic people.'
Iceland is already a strong and strategic partner, part of the EU's internal market, and has priorities well known to the commission.
Negotiations on EU membership are specific to each country, and the commission takes the candidate countries' realities into account.
In related news, Ukraine's foreign ministry summoned Hungary's acting chargé d'affaires in Kyiv over the detention of Ukrainian nationals in Budapest.
A ministry statement said Ukraine reserves the right to respond, including via sanctions and other restrictive measures against those involved in 'unlawful' actions.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced criticism from the European Commission, Hungarian opposition, and far-right leaders across Europe after issuing an apparent veiled threat to Hungary's pro-Russian prime minister Viktor Orbán.
Hungary's leader impounded two Ukrainian armoured bank vehicles carrying millions of euros of hard cash as well as bars of gold, which Ukraine dismissed as politically motivated.
Ukraine's foreign ministry said it summoned Hungary's acting chargé d'affaires in Kyiv over the detention of Ukrainian nationals in Budapest.
The country's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orbán of 'taking hostages' and threatened Hungary.
The dispute escalated with Hungary's leader impounding two Ukrainian armoured bank vehicles carrying millions of euros of hard cash as well as bars of gold.
Ukraine dismissed the move as 'politically motivated' and accused Hungary of 'hostage-taking'.
The European Commission has remained diplomatic on the issue, but its deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill sharply criticised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his comment.
'We are very clear as the European Commission that that type of language is not acceptable, there must not be threats against EU member states,' Gill said.
The commission's deputy chief spokesperson also said 'there is far too much hypothetical stuff going on' in questions and declined to 'go into speculation'.
In related news, Iceland has formally proposed a referendum on resuming accession talks with the European Union to take place on 29 August, subject to parliamentary approval.
The EU has welcomed the move, saying 'significant decisions lie ahead,' and stressing that 'the geopolitical context is fundamentally different today' than during Iceland's previous, unsuccessful talks with the bloc.
The referendum would only decide on reopening the accession talks, with the final deal then subject to another vote in the future, the country's prime minister clarified.
A new poll suggests that a majority of the Icelandic voters are in favour of restarting the process.
The Gallup poll, conducted in late February and early March, said that 57% were in favour of the talks restarting, with just over thirty percent opposed, and 12% undecided.
The prime minister said the referendum would only decide on the reopening of the accession talks with the EU, with the final deal then put for another vote.
The EU has welcomed the move, saying 'significant decisions lie ahead,' and stressing that 'the geopolitical context is fundamentally different today' than during Iceland's previous, unsuccessful talks with the bloc.
The referendum would only decide on reopening the accession talks, with the final deal then subject to another vote in the future, the country's prime minister clarified.
A new poll suggests that a majority of the Icelandic voters are in favour of restarting the process.
The Gallup poll, conducted in late February and early March, said that 57% were in favour of the talks restarting, with just over thirty percent opposed, and 12% undecided.