Hollande Threatens: Ceasefire Should Be Reached In Ukraine For France to Deliver Mistral to Russia

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French President Francois Hollande set terms for Mistral delivery to Russia, saying that his conditions were a ceasefire and a political settlement in Ukraine, Reuters reported Thursday. «What are the conditions? A ceasefire and a political settlement… Today these conditions are not in place,” Hollande said as quoted by Reuters. On the sidelines of a NATO summit currently held in Wales, Hollande told reporters that the contract for two Mistral-class helicopters carriers was neither cancelled, nor suspended, but mentioned that the above conditions must be met in order for the ships to be delivered to Russia. 

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Aggravation of Sanctions Unwanted, but Russian Troops in Ukraine ‘Intolerable’ – Hollande

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Francois Hollande said he does not want economic sanctions against Moscow to intensify, but stressed that Russia’s possible military presence in Ukraine is unacceptable and could trigger new restrictions, the French president said at a meeting of French ambassadors in Paris on Thursday.

“Europe will continue [to introduce sanctions], or it could even intensify them in case of an escalation [of the situation in Ukraine]. I do not want this, as this is not in the interest of France, the European Union, or Russia,” Hollande said.

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The maradona: France's Hollande visits First Lady Trierweiler in hospital.

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French President Francois Hollande has paid his first visit to his official partner Valerie Trierweiler since she was hospitalised in the wake of revelations he was having an affair, his office said.

Hollande visited Trierweiler at a Paris hospital on Thursday evening, six days after she was admitted, a spokesman said.

Hollande tells Obama of 'deep disapproval' of US spying on French citizens -Full Update

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French President Francois Hollande condemned US spying on French citizens in a call with President Barack Obama on Monday, as a row escalated over US eavesdropping on millions of French phone calls. Hollande's office said in a statement that he had expressed "deep disapproval of these practices, which are unacceptable between friends and allies because they infringe on the privacy of French citizens."

Hollande "asked that all explanations be provided, as well as all information that could be at the disposal of former NSA consultant Edward Snowden."

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