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France 'negotiating with Russia' over Mistral deal

President Francois Hollande says France is continuing discussions with Russia about finalising a mammoth weapons deal following France’s decision to suspend delivery of a warship last year citing Russia’s role in stoking conflict in Ukraine.

Mehdi Chebil, FRANCE 24 | Mistral warship (the Vladivostok) moored in Saint Nazaire, France
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"We are negotiating to find a way out of the crisis," Hollande said Sunday on French television Canal +, although he failed to elaborate further.

The Mistral-class helicopter carrier was part of the biggest arms sale ever by a NATO country to the Kremlin. But Russia’s actions in Ukraine have made the French government reconsider the billion-euro deal, even if it means refunding payments to Russia.

Last week Russian President Vladimir Putin warned France that Russia expects its advance payments to be returned if France fails to deliver the ship as agreed.

The French president, who this week is due to meet Putin during a trip to Armenia, said "we will see if we discuss it Friday".

(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP, Reuters)

 

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