Ukraine preparing retaliatory move over Hungary’s actions, Sybiha says

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the detention of seven Ukrainian citizens in Budapest hostage-taking and part of Hungary’s pre-election blackmail. Ukraine is preparing a diplomatic response and does not rule out imposing sanctions.

The foreign minister made the remarks on the social media platform X.

According to Sybiha, statements made by Hungarian officials earlier in the morning and the list of demands presented by Viktor Orbán to Ukraine clearly show that Budapest’s actions are politically motivated. Sybiha compared such behaviour to the tactics of terrorists.

«This is what usually happens after people are taken hostage: demands are issued. We will not tolerate such state banditry, ” the minister said.

He stressed that the detention of Ukrainians is part of Hungary’s internal political struggle and election campaign, into which official Budapest is trying to draw Ukraine. Kyiv is demanding that Hungary immediately stop using Ukrainian citizens for political purposes. Andrii Sybiha said that all those responsible for the capture and detention of the people will be held accountable.

Ukraine reserves the right to take decisive steps:

- introducing personal or state sanctions;

- imposing other restrictive measures in response to Budapest’s actions.

The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine plans to convene the diplomatic corps in the near future.

«We expect a strong reaction from our partners. We will also gather the diplomatic corps at Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry to inform them about Hungary’s unacceptable actions, refute the absurd accusations and call for support in holding those responsible to account, ” Sybiha concluded.