France says cannot deliver first helicopter carrier to Russia

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Daily Mail:

France will not deliver the first of two helicopter carriers to Russia for now because of Moscow's actions in eastern Ukraine, the French president's office said on Wednesday.

 

France, due to join NATO partners at a summit in Britain from Thursday, has faced fierce pressure from Washington and other allies to halt the sale of the Mistral-class warships, the first of which had been due for delivery in October.

 

Four hundred Russian sailors have been receiving training to operate the carrier since the end of June at shipyards at Saint-Naizaire, on France's Atlantic coast.

Warning Moscow it could face more sanctions, President Francois Hollande's said last week it would be "intolerable and unacceptable" if it were proven that Russian forces had entered Ukrainian territory, something Russia denies.