DJ Hollande: Conditions Arent Met for Delivery of Warship to Russia -- Update Dow Jones RECOMMEND COMMENT SHARE By Inti Landauro PARIS--France said Wednesday it may withhold the delivery of a powerful warship to Russia, due next month, because the Kremlins support to breakaway forces in eastern Ukraine threatens peace in Europe. Despite a possible cease-fire in Ukraine, the conditions that would allow France to authorize the delivery of the first Mistral-class ship arent met as of now, the office of President François Hollande said in a statement. The French warning comes a day ahead of a key summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, during which members of the military alliance are expected to discuss how to contain Russias westward expansion. It marks a shift in the French government rhetoric over the fate a EUR1.2 billion contract signed in 2011 to supply two warships, one in October and one in 2015. As the conflict between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists escalated, and despite objections by the U.S. and other allies, the French government insisted the program was on track. In July, days after the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine, Mr. Hollande dangled the possibility he might cancel the delivery of the 2015 vessel but said Paris was forging ahead with plans to supply the first ship in October. The two Mistral-class carriers ordered by Russia are capable of launching helicopter, tank and missile attacks from the sea. They would boost significantly the military might of the Russian forces. The contract is important for the French shipyard located in Saint-Nazaire on the French Atlantic Coast, which counted on the Russian order to keep afloat. Write to Inti Landauro at inti.landauro@wsj (END) Dow Jones Newswires September 03, 2014 13:12 ET (17:12 GMT)
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 17:25:56 +0000
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