France suspended on Wednesday the delivery of the first of two Mistral-class warships to Russia “until November” after fierce criticism from its allies given the crisis in Ukraine.
Paris agreed in 2011 to build and sell the two advanced helicopter assault ships to Russia for a total of €1.2 billion (HK$12.2 billion), with the first scheduled for delivery in October or November and the second next year.
French leaders had refused to back down on a sale seen as crucial to a country suffering from stagnant growth and record unemployment, despite widespread condemnation due to Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
“The President of the Republic declared that, despite the prospect of a ceasefire, the conditions for France to deliver the first warship are not to date in place,” Francois Hollande’s office announced on Wednesday, on the eve of a major Nato summit in Wales.
The statement came just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin raised hope of an end to the four-month war in the former Soviet republic, calling on pro-Kremlin rebels and government forces to cease fire and agree to the broad terms of a truce.
The situation in Ukraine is “serious ... the actions taken recently by Russia in eastern Ukraine go against the foundations of Europe’s security,” said the French statement, issued after a meeting of the country’s defence council.