France has announced it is to delay the delivery of a Mistral naval assault ship to Russia.<br /><br />Paris has blamed Moscow’s action in Ukraine as the reason.<br /><br />France has come under severe pressure from its allies to halt the sale of the two advanced vessels.<br /><br />The contract is the most significant Western arms deal with Russia currently on the books.<br /><br />The Mistrals can transport helicopters, troops and armoured vehicles.<br /><br />President Francois Hollande said despite the prospect of a peace deal the “conditions under which France could authorise the delivery of the first helicopter carrier are not in place.”<br /><br />The decision will be reviewed in November.
