France should either fulfill its contract obligations under a June 2011 contract to deliver two Mistral-class warships to the Russian Navy or return the money, a Russian deputy prime minister said Wednesday.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Monday that Paris will consider canceling the 1.2-billion-euro ($1.7 billion) deal if Moscow provokes further escalation in Ukraine.
The remarks came after the U.S. and European Union imposed sanctions on senior Russian officials following a referendum in Ukraine's Crimea in which voters overwhelmingly supported secession and reunification with Russia.
"Either stick to your contract obligations and deliver the warships in time, or return the money and parts of these warships' hulls, assembled at our Baltiysky Zavod [shipyard]," said Dmitry Rogozin, a deputy prime minister in charge of the defense industry.
A source in Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation told RIA Novosti on the condition of anonymity that France will also have to pay huge penalties if it chooses to unilaterally terminate the contract.
Under a June 2011 contract signed between Russia and France, the first French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, named Vladivostok, will be delivered to Russia by the year-end, while the second warship, the Sevastopol, is due to arrive in 2015.
The ships are capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing craft, 70 armored vehicles, and 450 soldiers and are expected to be deployed with Russia's Pacific Fleet.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.