PARIS, November 25. /TASS/. French President Francois Hollande believes the current situation in Ukraine does not allow Paris to hand over the first Mistral helicopter carrier to Russia, the French government said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The president of the Republic believes that the current situation in eastern Ukraine still does not allow the transfer of the first Mistral helicopter carrier,” the statement reads.

“Therefore, he has recommended postponing the issue of studying the request for the needed permission for the export of the first helicopter carrier ship of the Russian Federation until new orders are given,” according to the statement.

Russia is currently expecting the decision of Paris on the transfer of the first Mistral ship, the Vladivostok. If France fails to honor the contract due to West’s pressure, Paris will owe Moscow millions of euros in penalties.

Russian deputy defense minister Yuri Borisov told TASS on Tuesday Russia will be acting strictly in line with the contract and file a lawsuit if the ship is not delivered.

“Russia will be acting in compliance with the contract. If they don’t give it [to us], we will sue them and demand that penalties are paid. Russia’s behavior is strictly in line with the contract which has been signed,” he said.

Under a €1.2 billion contract, the first Mistral was scheduled to be handed over to Russia on November 14, but the French leadership has put the delivery on hold. The French president has repeatedly said that the key condition for the transfer is “full compliance” with the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.