Friday

8th Dec 2023

Germany backs France on Russia warship contract

  • Merkel: 'The question of exports to Russia falls under stage three' (Photo: consilium.europa.au)

Germany has defended France’s plan to deliver a warship to Russia in October despite US criticism of the move.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday (4 June) in Brussels that interruption of delivery might only come if the EU adopts “stage three” sanctions - economic sanctions - against Russia.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

But she said the EU is not adopting them because Russia did not stop Ukraine’s 25 May elections from going ahead.

“The question of exports to Russia falls under stage three. About when to trigger stage three, if there is more destabilisation we have agreed, also myself bilaterally with the US President, that if elections take place we won't trigger stage three. We see elections have taken place successfully, but that there were also negative elements of destabilisation [in east Ukraine],” she noted.

“If there is further destabilisation, yes, stage three - we've always said it,” she added.

She commended French diplomacy for inviting Ukraine’s pro-Western president-elect, Petro Poroshenko, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to a D-Day anniversary in France on Friday in the hope of brokering a meeting.

She spoke after the leaders of the G7 group of wealthy nations met in the EU capital without Putin in a snub prompted by his attack on Ukraine.

Hollande also defended the warship contract.

He told media that none of the G7 leaders mentioned the deal. “The contract was signed in 2011 and is in the process of being completed. It will be fulfilled in October and the [first] ship will be delivered,” he said.

“Today we are executing the contract in full legal compliance because we’re not at that level of sanctions.”

The US state department recently criticised the arms sale as “unhelpful” in terms of signals on Western unity.

Franco-US relations have also hit a stumbling block over a US decision to fine French bank BNP Paribas billions of dollars for non-compliance with US sanctions on Cuba and Iran.

Hollande said the fine has nothing to do with the warships.

He noted that he “respects” the independence of US regulators on BNP Paribas and that US leader Barack Obama recently gave him a warm welcome in Washington.

He also said the G7 is united on Russia, after leaders on Thursday published a communique which threatened “significant additional restrictive measures ... on Russia should events so require.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that more than 400 Russian sailors will on 22 June begin training in the French port of Saint-Nazaire on how to use the “Mistral” amphibious assault vessels.

The €1.2 billion contract for two ships has created some 1,000 jobs in French shipyards and France would face big fines for contractual non-compliance if it halts delivery.

One EU diplomat said even hawkish EU countries on Russia sympathise with Hollande.

“It’s easy for the US to say this deal is ‘unhelpful’ because they do not have to pay the price that France would have to pay,” the contact noted.

“France also sees what other EU countries are doing. Why should it stick its neck out on the Mistrals, when [British firm] BP just signed a major new deal with [Russian firm] Rosneft even though it didn’t have to?” the source added, referring to a May contract on oil exploration.

For his part, Putin in an interview ahead of his D-Day visit said he would seek financial redress if he doesn't get his ship on time.

"It wouldn't contribute positively to the future development of our relations in the domain of technological and military co-operation," he told the France 1 broadcaster.

"But in principle, we are open to co-operation, eventually to place new orders [for military hardware] if our French partners wish to continue the co-operation", he said.

Latest News

  1. How Moldova is trying to control tuberculosis
  2. Many problems to solve in Dubai — honesty about them is good
  3. Sudanese fleeing violence find no haven in Egypt or EU
  4. How should EU reform the humanitarian aid system?
  5. EU suggests visa-bans on Israeli settlers, following US example
  6. EU ministers prepare for all-night fiscal debate
  7. Spain's Nadia Calviño backed to be EIB's first female chief
  8. Is there hope for the EU and eurozone?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  3. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  4. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  5. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  6. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us