MOSCOW, November 20 (Sputnik) — The outcome of France's milestone deal with Russia to supply two Mistral-class helicopter carriers will test the potential of an EU-Russia partnership, senior Russian lawmaker Alexei Pushkov said Thursday.
"This deal is very symbolic: if it is successful, this will mean that our cooperation has to some extent survived the Ukrainian crisis," Pushkov, who chairs a foreign affairs committee in the lower house of parliament, told journalists at the Rossiya Segodnya press center in Moscow.
The lawmaker added that if the deal were broken, "it would mean that confrontational trends have prevailed over Russia and Europe's drive for cooperation".
Pushkov said the standoff over France's ship deliveries to Russia was predominantly political and indicated the extent of Washington's influence on Europe. "The Americans want to prove that they have the upper hand in Europe… that no one can dodge their sanctions… that isolation works," he noted.
In June 2011, Russia and France signed a $1.6 billion deal for two Mistral-class ships. The ships, capable of carrying 16 helicopters, four landing craft, 70 armored vehicles and 450 troops, are expected to join Russia's Pacific Fleet.
Following the start of a crisis in Ukraine, French President Francois Hollande threatened to suspend delivery of the ships citing Moscow's alleged involvement in the conflict. This followed US President Barack Obama's statement that Paris should "press the pause button" on the sale.
The handover of the first ship, the Vladivostok, was scheduled for November 14, but the ceremony did not take place. Russia condemned France's failure to deliver on its contractual obligations, saying it would be liable for a hefty penalty payment if the deal were to break off.
