Ukraine's PM links detention of Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards in Hungary to Hungarian foreign minister's Moscow trip
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko claims the detention of Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards in Hungary is linked to recent contacts between Hungarian officials and Moscow.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has publicly connected the detention of seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards in Hungary to the recent visit of Hungary's Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, to Moscow, suggesting a possible influence from the Kremlin in this incident. She has pointed out that this timing appears suspicious and aligns with Hungary's recent diplomatic engagements with Russia, specifically noting that figures associated with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán were also in Moscow around the same period.
Svyrydenko has characterized the Hungarian actions towards the detained Ukrainians as reminiscent of Moscow's tactics from the 1990s, indicating a pattern of behavior that concerns the Ukrainian government. She emphasized that the situation is unacceptable and demanded the immediate release of the Ukrainian citizens detained in Hungary, positioning this demand as a matter of national priorities and diplomatic relations.
To further highlight Ukraine's stance, Svyrydenko stated that they would take appropriate measures to hold those responsible for the unlawful detention accountable, signalling a potential escalation in diplomatic tension between Ukraine and Hungary over this incident. This situation not only presents challenges for bilateral relations but also reflects on the broader geopolitical dynamics in Eastern Europe, particularly in the context of Ukraine's relationship with both its neighbors and Russia.