Fortum slammed what it called “false claims” by wind giant Vestas that it is undermining EU sanctions against Russia, as a commercial dispute escalated into a full-scale public row between the Finnish state-owned power group and its former wind turbine supplier.

Vestas earlier today (Wednesday) issued a statement condemning a €200m ($218m) arbitration claim lodged in Sweden by Fortum over terminated turbine supply agreements relating to wind farm developments formerly underway in Russia.