Russia not suing France over warship delivery delay: minister

MOSCOW - Agence France-Presse

This Friday, Nov.14, 2014 file photo shows the Vladivostok Mistral-class helicopter carrier docking at Saint-Nazaire harbor, western France. AP Photo

Russia has no immediate plans to file a claim against France after it delayed the delivery of a hi-tech warship over the Ukraine crisis, Deputy Defence Minister Yury Borisov said Nov. 25.
      
"We'll wait patiently... So far we are not filing a claim anywhere," Borisov told the RIA Novosti news agency after French President Francois Hollande said the delivery was delayed "until further notice" because of the situation in eastern Ukraine.
      
"Everything is written in the contract. We will act according to the wording of the contract, like all civilised people," Borisov said.
      
However, Borisov added in comments to ITAR-TASS news agency that if France ultimately refused to hand over the ship, Russia would "go to court and impose fines".
      
France had been due to hand over the first of two Mistral helicopter carriers ordered by Russia this month.        
But France has come under huge pressure from its allies, particularly the United States, over the deal and in September postponed the delivery.