Accessibility links

Breaking News

Russia Terminates French Mistral Deal


The Mistral-class helicopter carriers Sevastopol (right) and Vladivostok are seen at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, France, on May 21.
The Mistral-class helicopter carriers Sevastopol (right) and Vladivostok are seen at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, France, on May 21.

Russia says it is terminating a 1.4 billion-euro ($1.5 billion) deal for two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships from France.

In September 2014, French President Francois Hollande announced that the two warships would not be delivered due to Russia's "recent actions in Ukraine."

Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency quoted Oleg Bochkaryov, the deputy head of the Military-Industrial Commission, as saying on May 26, "Russia won't take them, that's an accomplished fact."

"Now there is only one discussion -- about the sum of money that should be returned to Russia," he added.

Bochkaryov said Russia planned to construct its own similar vessels, not copy the Mistral, adding that Moscow had a "slightly different ideology for the endeavor of amphibious assault."

Earlier this month, the Kremlin said France had made a formal proposal to scrap the deal.

Based on reporting by TASS and dpa

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG