IN ARMENIA, PRESIDENTS OF FRANCE AND RUSSIA TO DISCUSS ISSUE OF MISTRAL AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS
by Alexandr Avanesov
Monday, April 20, 10:53
While on a visit to Armenia on April 24, Presidents of France and
Russia, Francois Hollande and Vladimir Putin, are expected to discuss
delivery of the French Mistral amphibious assault ships to Russia.
According to RT TV, the statement came from the French president on
the French television.
Reportedly, Holland said Moscow and Paris have not yet arrived at
any agreement on the delivery of two Mistral amphibious assault ships
since December, when Russia was to receive the first one. The president
said the main problems rest upon the situation in Ukraine.
Commenting on the issue earlier, Vladimir Putin said: “Russia will
not impose penalties against France over its failure to fulfill a
1.2 billion euro contract to supply two Mistral helicopter carriers,”
according to Reuters.
“We do intend to seek any penalties or fines … but it is necessary
that all costs we have incurred are covered,” Putin said during his
annual televised call-in show.
“I assume the current French leadership and the French generally are
good people and will return our money,” he said.