President Francois Hollande won broad domestic applause on Tuesday for defying allies Britain and the United States by confirming plans to deliver a helicopter carrier to Russia. One backer dismissed their objections as hypocritical.
Speaking on the eve of a European Union meeting to discuss sanctions on Moscow over Thursday’s downing of a Malaysian passenger airliner over eastern Ukraine, Hollande said late Monday that a first Mistral warship would be handed over on schedule in October. A decision on a second would depend on Russia’s attitude.
It was the clearest signal yet that Paris will go through with the controversial deal despite …read more
Source: Voice of America
