France, March 6 -- The dispute escalated on Friday after Ukraine accused Hungary of briefly detaining a group of Ukrainian bank employees transporting $40 million and nine kilogrammes of gold through the country.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said Hungary had taken the group "hostage", but Budapest later announced they would be deported back to Ukraine after a short detention.

Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration - Nemzeti Adó- es Vamhivatal (NAV) said seven Ukrainian citizens were detained on Thursday, including a former Ukrainian secret service general, along with two armoured cash transport vehicles. The agency initially said it would be "conducting criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering."...