France halts delivery of first Mistral warship to Russia

PARIS, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- France has again expressed reticence to deliver Mistral-class warships to Russia, citing Russia's role in "the situation in Ukraine."

Russia has been accused by the West of inciting unrest in eastern Ukraine, and supplying both military equipment and personnel to the rebels in their battle against the Ukrainian government. The European Union and United States have imposed successive sanctions on Russia in response to its aggression toward Ukraine, and have pressured France to cancel its Mistral amphibious assault ship contract with Russia.

According to the $1.6 billion contract, the first Mistral ship, the Vladivostok, was scheduled to be delivered by mid-November and the second warship, the Sevastopol, in 2015.

France has repeatedly expressed reluctance to complete the contract. Finance Minister Michel Sapin told RTL radio in late October that "the conditions aren't met," explaining that those conditions include Russia improving relations with neighboring Ukraine.

On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande's office announced it could not yet deliver the first warship because of "the situation in Ukraine."

If the ships are not delivered, Russia plans to sue France, said Russian deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov. "If [France] won't deliver [Mistral], we'll sue and impose penalties."

Some U.S. lawmakers, recognizing the potential precarious situation France could find itself in if it halts the deliveries, wrote to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier in the month to propose "NATO purchase or lease the warships as a common naval asset."