BRUSSELS, November 18. /TASS/. The European Union and NATO members are trying to persuade France to stop the delivery of Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and the head of Defense Department Tomasz Siemoniak said Tuesday. He was at the scheduled meeting of the EU defense ministers.

He said the issue was discussed on the sidelines of the talks in Brussels. “The pressure on France is strong. I am confident that France will make a wise and responsible decision, knowing that it is a NATO member.”

He added that Poland is against France's selling high-technology military equipment to Russia.

In his opinion, France is already close to a decision on Mistral delivery to Russia.