Hungary detains Ukrainian bank employees and seizes cash, escalating dispute

Hungarian authorities detained seven employees of Ukraine's Oschadbank in Budapest and seized a large sum of cash they were transporting. Ukraine has accused Hungary of 'state banditry,' 'taking hostages,' and stealing the money, while Hungary says it is investigating the money transfer and awaiting explanations from Kyiv.

The incident has sharply escalated tensions between the two countries, with the European Union criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's rhetoric as 'not acceptable.' The dispute occurs as Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatens to block a major new EU financial aid package for Ukraine at an upcoming summit.