KIEV, Aug. 7 - Ukraine has called on France not to transfer the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers that are being built under a contract with Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Vasyl Zvarych said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

"We are insistently calling for the implementation of the Mistral contract to be suspended. All judicial and legal grounds for this are in place," he said.

This contract may be put on hold in compliance with criteria set by Article 2 of the arms export rules that were adopted by the Council of Europe on December 8, 2008, Zvarych said.

Zvarych said that Russian Naval Chief, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky earlier said that if in August 2008 Russia had helicopter carriers of the Mistral type, Russia would place its army in Georgia in 40 minutes, and not in 26 hours.

"Here is the real illustration of real plans of Russia regarding Mistrals – to use them in their aggressive occupation policy," Zvarych said.

"The sale of the Mistrals to Russia would come as an undesirable signal of Russia's impunity for violations of international law and aggression the victims of which were, for example, Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine today," he said.

"If Russia receives Mistrals, the answer to the question 'who is next' could come from Moscow very quickly, unfortunately," he said.

France is a responsible international partner that has always honored its international commitments, Zvarych said, adding that Paris may find it difficult to back out of the Mistral contract.

"However we believe that the cost of international security and democratic values, the cost of freedom and lives of peaceful people is higher than EUR 1 billion."

The deal signed by the Russian and French governments in 2011 stipulates that two Mistral-class helicopter carriers be handed over to Russia in 2014 and permits the construction of another two such vessels at shipyards in Russia. Unofficial reports put the cost of each Mistral helicopter carrier at approximately EUR 600 million.

The European Union imposed economic sanctions on Russia on July 29, stipulating that the measures would not affect any previously signed contracts. (om/ez)