France suspends military shipment to Russia over Ukraine crisis

France suspended the delivery of a warship to Russia on Tuesday, after months of speculation about what would be the biggest arms sale ever by a NATO country to the Kremlin.

The French president's office announced the suspension "until further notice" after growing pressure from allies due to tensions over Russia's actions in Ukraine.

“The President of the Republic considers that the situation in the east of Ukraine still does not permit the delivery of the first BPC [helicopter carrying and command vessel],' said a statement from President Francois Hollande's office. “He has therefore decided that it is appropriate to suspend, until further notice, examination of the request for the necessary authorization to export the first BCP to the Russian Federation.”

The first of the two ships, the Vladivostok, is docked at the French port city of Saint Nazaire, where about 400 Russian sailors have spent months training aboard the vessel.

A second French-made ship, named the Sevastopol, after a port on the Crimean Peninsula, was slated for delivery next year and recently arrived at the Saint Nazaire docks for finishing touches. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March.

Tuesday's statement stopped short of canceling the two-ship deal, suggesting the French government is reluctant give up on a contract worth more than 1 billion euros ($1.24 billion) and thousands of jobs during an economic slump.

The Vladivostok can carry 700 troops, 16 helicopter gunships and up to 50 armored vehicles.

Analysts say the two warships would give Russia an enhanced ability to move large numbers of troops and equipment but were not game-changers for Moscow's military.

Russia's deputy defense minister told RIA Novosti news agency Tuesday that Moscow did not plan to take any immediate action against France for delaying the deal.

"We are satisfied. It is the French who are not satisfied, and we are going to patiently wait," said Yuri Borisov. "Everything is spelled out in the contract, and we are going to act in accord with the contract like all civilized people."

The United Nations says over 4,300 people have been killed in a pro-Russian separatist insurrection in eastern Ukraine, which the West says Moscow has promoted. Russia denies any involvement but accuses the Ukrainian military of using indiscriminate violence against civilians.

Ukraine leveled fresh charges on Tuesday that Russia was sending support to pro-Russian separatists in the east, saying that five columns of heavy equipment were seen crossing onto Ukrainian territory on Monday.

The latest accusations come amid a standstill in diplomatic efforts to end the six-month conflict.

Separately, the Kiev military said one soldier was killed and five others injured in the past 24 hours as a fragile ceasefire declared on Sept. 5 continued to come under pressure.

"The Russian side is continuing to provide the terrorist organizations of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics with heavy armaments," said a foreign ministry spokesman.

Wire services