
France intends to fulfill its contractual obligations to Russia with the delivery of two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships for launching helicopters. Reuters, citing French diplomatic sources, is reporting that withholding the Mistrals will not be included in another round of European Union sanctions. The European body has been enacting sanctions to punish Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine. The United States and other NATO countries have expressed concern about France’s $1.6 billion agreement in 2011 with Russia to supply two…