CRI听力:France Suspends Delivery of Mistral Carriers to Russia

France has announced it is indefinitely suspending the delivery of two Mistral helicopter carrier warships to Russia, citing Moscow's role in the conflict in Ukraine.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has made the announcement in Warsaw at a joint news conference with his Polish counterpart.

"Firstly, I wanted to be here personally, to inform Mr. Minister about the decision of the president of the Republic of France, connected to the present situation in the east of Ukraine, a decision to postpone until further notice the processing of the application for permission to export first BPC type battleship."

France has been under pressure for months from its NATO allies to scrap the 1.6-billion-US-dollar contract.

Under the deal signed in 2011, France had been scheduled to deliver the first Mistral to Russia by mid-November, and the second in 2015.

Paris now faces potential compensation claims for breaching the contract.

France won't be in breach if it does deliver the technology by mid-February.

A senior Russian defense official says there are currently no plans to file claims against France over the delays.