France suspends delivery of warship to Russia
PARIS
(AP) — France suspended the delivery of a warship to Russia on Tuesday,
after months of speculation about what would be the biggest arms sale
ever by a NATO country to the Kremlin.
Associated Press
France suspends delivery of warship to Russia
By SYLVIE CORBET and LORI HINNANT
6 hours ago
PARIS (AP) — France suspended the delivery of a warship to
Russia on Tuesday, after months of speculation about what would be the
biggest arms sale ever by a NATO country to the Kremlin.
The French president's office announced the
suspension "until further notice" after growing pressure from allies due
to tensions over Russia's actions in Ukraine. The first of the two
ships, the Vladivostok, is docked at the French port city of Saint
Nazaire, where about 400 Russian sailors have spent months training
aboard the vessel.
A second French-made ship, named the Sevastopol, after a port on the Crimean Peninsula, was slated for delivery next year and recently arrived at the Saint Nazaire docks for finishing touches. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March.
Tuesday's statement stopped short of cancelling the two-ship deal, suggesting the French government is reluctant give up on a contract worth more than 1 billion euros ($1.24 billion) and thousands of jobs during an economic slump.
The Vladivostok can carry 700 troops, 16 helicopter gunships and up to 50 armored vehicles.
Analysts say the two warships would give Russia an enhanced ability to move large numbers of troops and equipment but were not game-changers for Moscow's military.
Russia's deputy defense minister told RIA Novosti news agency Tuesday that Moscow did not plan to take any immediate action against France for delaying the deal.
"We are satisfied. It is the French who are not satisfied and we are going to patiently wait," said Yuri Borisov. "Everything is spelled out in the contract and we are going to act in accord with the contract like all civilized people."
____
Associated Press writer Laura Mills in Moscow contributed to this report.
____
A second French-made ship, named the Sevastopol, after a port on the Crimean Peninsula, was slated for delivery next year and recently arrived at the Saint Nazaire docks for finishing touches. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March.
Tuesday's statement stopped short of cancelling the two-ship deal, suggesting the French government is reluctant give up on a contract worth more than 1 billion euros ($1.24 billion) and thousands of jobs during an economic slump.
The Vladivostok can carry 700 troops, 16 helicopter gunships and up to 50 armored vehicles.
Analysts say the two warships would give Russia an enhanced ability to move large numbers of troops and equipment but were not game-changers for Moscow's military.
Russia's deputy defense minister told RIA Novosti news agency Tuesday that Moscow did not plan to take any immediate action against France for delaying the deal.
"We are satisfied. It is the French who are not satisfied and we are going to patiently wait," said Yuri Borisov. "Everything is spelled out in the contract and we are going to act in accord with the contract like all civilized people."
____
Associated Press writer Laura Mills in Moscow contributed to this report.
____
(An earlier version of this story misspelled the Russian deputy defense minister's name. It is Yuri Borisov.)
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