France says Russia warship depends on peace in Ukraine

FRANCOIS Hollande has vowed France would complete delivery to Russia of a naval ship only if peace is established in Ukraine.

PRESIDENT Francois Hollande yesterday vowed France would complete delivery to Russia of a sophisticated naval ship only if peace was established in Ukraine.

“We need to do all we can for a ceasefire, but a real ceasefire that will then lead to a political solution,” Mr Hollande said at a NATO summit in Wales.

“It could be in November, but the conditions have to be in place. What are the conditions? A ceasefire and a political agreement.”

Mr Hollande rejected comments made by a French diplomatic source that France had come under pressure from allies to suspend the contract to Russia, which NATO accuses of stoking an insurgency against Ukraine. “I did not feel pressure of any sort from anywhere,” he said. “I told the Russians that we want this contract to go ahead and for the warship to be delivered — the first one will soon be ready,” he said.

AFP