Ukraine's foreign minister on return of Oschadbank funds: sign of Hungary's readiness to develop relations
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has described Hungary's decision to return previously seized funds and valuables belonging to Oschadbank as a sign of readiness to develop bilateral relations.
Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: Sybiha called the decision a positive step towards normalising Ukrainian-Hungarian relations.
He also thanked the Hungarian side for this move.
"The return of the stolen property draws a clear line between the lawlessness of the Orbán regime and the constructive approach of the incoming new government. We take this as a sign of Hungary's willingness to advance our relations with mutual respect and healthy pragmatism – and we are ready to reciprocate," the Ukrainian foreign minister stressed.
In this context, Sybiha added that he is looking forward to communicating with Hungary's incoming Foreign Minister Anita Orbán.
Background:
- On 6 May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the Hungarian side had returned the funds and valuables of Oschadbank that had been seized in Budapest in March.
- In early March, the National Bank of Ukraine reported that Hungarian authorities had detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards and seized a large amount of currency.
- A convoy of Ukrainian cash collectors was transporting cash and gold worth around US$80 million from Austria's Raiffeisen Bank to Ukraine's Oschadbank.
- Hungary later released the cash-in-transit workers and passed legislation providing for the confiscation of the currency and valuables from Oschadbank's cash-in-transit vehicles.
- Fedir Shandor, Ukraine's Ambassador to Hungary, previously stressed in an interview with European Pravda that it is important not only to return the property but also to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!