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France to train Russian sailors

Summary

30 June 2014

Four hundred Russian sailors have arrived in France to train on two warships that the French government is selling to the Russian navy. President Francois Hollande has refused to cancel the sale of these ships despite criticism from the United States and other allies. 

Reporter:

Christian Fraser

Report

This is a deal worth €1.2 billion to France - not to mention the jobs. 

But it sorely undermines France's position - they've been one of the countries pushing Germany to take a tougher line with Russia over the recent unrest in eastern Ukraine. 

President Obama has made his feelings clear. "It would have been preferable," he said, "to press the pause button". 

The Hollande government says the current sanctions agreement doesn't cover military hardware and the contract, signed by President Sarkozy's government in 2011, is too expensive to cancel.