France Rejects Blocking Mistral Warship Sale to Russia

France’s government said it will deliver Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia as planned, rejecting requests from its European and U.S. allies to cancel the sale to punish Russian interference in Ukraine.

France refuses to link the contract to the debate over tighter sanctions on Russia, an official from President Francois Hollande’s office told reporters traveling with the president in Baku late yesterday. The official, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the discussions, cited the size of the contract, the penalties that would be due in the event of cancellation and France’s refusal to be the only country taking a meaningful hit on sanctions.