BASEL: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday warned France its reputation was on the line over the delivery of a controversial warship to Russia, which has been delayed due to the conflict in Ukraine.

His comments came as Paris warned the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers it built for Russia may never be delivered, with a lasting ceasefire in war-torn eastern Ukraine so far proving elusive.

“I am a little fed up with this question. It is not our problem anymore, it is a problem of France’s reputation. They have to fulfil all the obligations under the contract,” Lavrov told journalists on the sidelines of an OSCE ministerial conference in Switzerland.

French President Francois Hollande last week again delayed “until further notice” the delivery of the first warship, a vast grey vessel named Vladivostok which is currently anchored off western France.

He said the “current situation in eastern Ukraine still does not allow for the delivery”. Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday that Paris had not budged on its decision, even as warring parties announced a fresh truce from Dec 9. “For the moment we are not delivering. We may never deliver. The Russians need to realise this situation,” he said.

The final date for delivery has not been announced, but Hollande has insisted he will not give in to pressure and the contract has not yet been broken.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2014