France May Cancel Mistral Warship Contract for Russia

[dipsydoodle]

PARIS--France will consider canceling plans to deliver two warships to the Russian Navy if the Kremlin provokes another round of sanctions by extending its military intervention in Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Monday.

In a TV interview, Mr. Fabius was asked whether Paris planned to follow through on a EUR1.4 billion ($1.95 billion) contract to build two Mistral carriers for Moscow, even as tensions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the West escalate to levels not seen since the Cold War. The first Mistral a high-tech amphibious assault ship capable of deploying helicopters and tanks is due to arrive in Russia by the end of the year.

"If Putin carries on like this, we could consider canceling these sales, " Mr. Fabius said. The foreign minster emphasized that such a step would only come as part of a "phase three" escalation in economic sanctions against Moscow, adding that the possible loss of the naval contracts would be "negative" for the French economy.

"We will ask others I'm thinking of the British in particular to do something equivalent with the assets of the Russian oligarchs in London. The sanction must affect everyone," Mr. Fabius said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140317-711663.html

France May Scrap Russian Warship Deal over Ukraine Crisis

MOSCOW, March 18 (RIA Novosti) – Paris will consider canceling a 1.4-billion-euro deal to deliver two Mistral-class warships to the Russian Navy if Moscow provokes further escalation in Ukraine, the French foreign minister has said.

In the interview with France’s TF1, Laurent Fabius denied the legitimacy of Sunday’s referendum in Crimea to join Russia and urged Moscow to take urgent measures to avoid “useless and dangerous” escalation in Ukraine.

The first French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, named Vladivostok, capable of deploying helicopters and tanks, was due to arrive in Russia by the year-end under a June 2011 contract signed between Russia and France.

A second Mistral-class warship, the Sevastopol, is due to arrive in 2015 and become part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquartered in Crimea.

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140318/188536562/France-May-Scrap-Russian-Warship-Deal-over-Ukraine-Crisis.html

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Cold wind is blowing . . . n/t