French President Francois Hollande has delayed the controversial delivery of a high-tech warship to Russia "until further notice" over the crisis in Ukraine.
"The President of the Republic considers that the current situation in eastern Ukraine still does not allow for the delivery of the first" warship, Mr Hollande's office said in a statement.
"He therefore decided to delay until further notice" the decision on whether to grant the export licence needed to deliver the ship to Russia, according to the statement.
Russia has reportedly warned France of "serious" consequences unless it delivers the first of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers on order by the end of November.
The first of the two assault ships was supposed to be delivered earlier this month, according to the original deal signed in 2011.
However, amid the Ukrainian crisis and the rapid decline in the West's relations with Russia, France has come under intense pressure from its allies, particularly the United States, and in September postponed the delivery.
France has been under pressure from its Western allies to scrap the €1.2bn contract altogether.
Russia today said it does not plan to file a claim against France, deputy defence minister Yuriy Borisov said.
"We'll wait patiently ... So far we are not filing a claim anywhere," Mr Borisov told RIA Novosti news agency.
