Hollande offers conditions for warship delivery to Russia
- 10 years ago
French President Francois Hollande sits down with Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko at the NATO summit in Wales after he moved to suspend delivery of a warship built for Russia amid the ongoing battle for control for Ukraine's east.
France has come under pressure from the US and European partners to scrap the deal, signed by his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.
Hollande denies that this pressure had forced his hand and later explains to reporters what it will take to resume delivery.
(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE SAYING:
"Some conditions have to be met for the warship to be delivered. What are the conditions? A ceasefire and a political settlement. Today, those conditions are not met. How could I authorize the delivery of a ship which could tomorrow be used as a ship of war when there is the crisis in Ukraine? But as soon as -- and it could happen in October or November -- as soon as the conditions are met, the ships can be delivered."
France has come under pressure from the US and European partners to scrap the deal, signed by his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.
Hollande denies that this pressure had forced his hand and later explains to reporters what it will take to resume delivery.
(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE SAYING:
"Some conditions have to be met for the warship to be delivered. What are the conditions? A ceasefire and a political settlement. Today, those conditions are not met. How could I authorize the delivery of a ship which could tomorrow be used as a ship of war when there is the crisis in Ukraine? But as soon as -- and it could happen in October or November -- as soon as the conditions are met, the ships can be delivered."