Is French warship start of new Cold War?
- 10 years ago
They were seen as a lifeline for the French economy.
Two helicopter carriers bound for Russia in a deal worth 1.2 billion euros.
But now France may have to pay that money back - after halting delivery at the 11th hour in light of Moscow's actions in Ukraine.
A significant moment, says Carsten Bzreski from ING.
SOUNDBITE (English) CARSTEN BRZESKI, SENIOR ECONOMIST, ING, SAYING:
"It's obvious that it's going to hurt France economically but right now I think we've reached a stage in the Ukraine crisis in which politics are much more important than economic aspects."
The tougher stance comes as NATO leaders gather in Wales for a summit billed as the most important in decades.
The crisis in Ukraine is top of the agenda.
It was thought a ceasefire plan announced by Russia could wrongfoot the alliance as the US and the EU consider fresh sanctions.
But that notion was quickly dismissed in opening remarks by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fog
Two helicopter carriers bound for Russia in a deal worth 1.2 billion euros.
But now France may have to pay that money back - after halting delivery at the 11th hour in light of Moscow's actions in Ukraine.
A significant moment, says Carsten Bzreski from ING.
SOUNDBITE (English) CARSTEN BRZESKI, SENIOR ECONOMIST, ING, SAYING:
"It's obvious that it's going to hurt France economically but right now I think we've reached a stage in the Ukraine crisis in which politics are much more important than economic aspects."
The tougher stance comes as NATO leaders gather in Wales for a summit billed as the most important in decades.
The crisis in Ukraine is top of the agenda.
It was thought a ceasefire plan announced by Russia could wrongfoot the alliance as the US and the EU consider fresh sanctions.
But that notion was quickly dismissed in opening remarks by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fog