US voices 'concerns' at sale of French warships to Russia

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Yahoo / AP

Washington (AFP) - US officials voiced concern Thursday at the sale of French warships to Moscow as they mulled tougher sanctions on Russia for the political upheaval triggered by the Ukraine crisis.

"We have regularly and consistently expressed our concerns about this sale even before we had the latest Russian actions and we will continue to do so," Assistant Secretary for Europe Victoria Nuland told US lawmakers ahead of a visit next week to Washington by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

The first of two Mistral warships is not due to be delivered to Russia until later this year, and France has so far resisted pressure to suspend the controversial $1.2 billion contract.

The Mistral is an advanced helicopter assault ship and France's 2011 agreement to sell them to Russia already triggered protests from the United States and other NATO allies.

The first, named the Vladivostok, is due to be delivered in October, while the second, "The Sebastopol" is to be delivered in 2015 and stationed with the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea -- annexed by Moscow in March.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/us-voices-concerns-sale-french-warships-russia-181201334.html

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France had already said that the sale would be reviewed in October.

[jakeXT]

1. Hollande is no de Gaulle /nt

[nyabingi]

2. The money chase outweighs

any other consideration...always.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

3. What about the US buying helicopters and rockets from Russia?

[Igel]

4. Probably meaningless posturing.

The ships are owed by contract and partly paid for. If French reneged, Russia claims that they'd have to be reimbursed their money.

Putin also claims that as part of the deal the French have made available enough blueprints, specifications, and schematics that they could finish the partially made ships on their own without too much trouble. Whether this is bravado or not I can't say.

This particular bit of controversy is a few weeks old and fairly well hashed out. If you follow the Ukrainian press (whether in Ukr or Ru).