Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha:

"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.

These seven Ukrainians are employees of state-owned Oschadbank, who were operating two bank cars transiting between Austria and Ukraine and carrying cash as part of regular services between state banks.

In fact, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money. If this is the “force” announced earlier today by Mr Orban, then this is a force of a criminal gang. This is state terrorism and racketeering.

We have already sent an official note demanding an immediate release of our citizens. 

We will also address the European Union with the request to provide a clear qualification of Hungary’s unlawful actions, hostage-taking, and robbery."