“We will accept any scenario of Mistral deal developments. It is not important whether the decision will be made on December 31 or January 1, 2015, we are awaiting France’s decision,” Borisov told reporters,, adding that both ships delivery or refund of all the money invested in the project will equally suit Moscow.
Under the $1.5 billion contract signed in June 2011, France should build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy.
On December 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow expected the contract to be fulfilled. Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov later announced that Moscow's position on the delivery of Mistral-class helicopter carriers from France boils down to two options: either the ships or a refund.
On Thursday, Russian sailors who had trained to operate the vessels since June in the French port of Saint-Nazaire, returned to Russia. Previously, they were expected to remain in Saint-Nazaire until the Vladivostok vessel was handed over to the Russian Navy, according to a Russian military source.
