The Mistral-class assault warship Vladivostok, the first of two mammoth Mistral helicopter carriers, that was supposed to be delivered to Russia on November 15, 2014 according to the original deal signed in 2011 and worth 1.2 billion euros ($1.5 billion) for both vessels, is docked on November 21 at the entrance of the western French port of Saint-Nazaire near the Russian training ship, Smolny. Paris was due to hand over the first Mistral-class helicopter carrier in October, but as the Ukraine crisis has deepened into the worst East-West standoff since the Cold War, it has postponed delivery for fear of antagonizing its allies. France however faces huge penalties if it breaches the 1.2 billion euro ($1.5 billion) contract, and last week Russia warned of serious consequences if the first ship did not arrive by the end of November. AFP PHOTO / GEORGES GOBET (Photo credit should read GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty Images)