Hollande Free to Raise Mistral Delivery Issues With Putin in Armenia

© AFP 2023 / GEORGES GOBETThe Sevastopol mistral warship is on its way for its first sea trials, on March 16, 2015 off Saint-Nazaire
The Sevastopol mistral warship is on its way for its first sea trials, on March 16, 2015 off Saint-Nazaire - Sputnik International
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According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande may discuss the delivery of the Mistral-class helicopter carriers in Yerevan.

The STX Europe shipyard in Saint-Nazaire - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande may discuss the delivery of the Mistral-class helicopter carriers in Yerevan, but only if the latter raises the issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Putin and Hollande will both be at the commemoration ceremony in Yerevan for the 100-year anniversary of the Armenian genocide during the Ottoman Empire.

"In regard to the issue of delivering the Mistral, then this is the French side's problem, the side that has received money from a client and has so far not fulfilled its obligations. Therefore, if the French side brings this up, then of course it will be discussed," Peskov told journalists.

According to the terms of Russia's $1.5-billion Mistral delivery contract with France, signed in 2011, Paris was due to deliver the first of the two Mistral-class ships, the Vladivostok, to the Russian Navy by November 14, 2014.

Sevastopol (L) and the Vladivostok warships, two Mistral class LHD amphibious vessels ordered by Russia from STX France in Saint-Nazaire, western France, on December 20, 2014 - Sputnik International
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The delivery was halted by Hollande over Russia's alleged military support for pro-independence militia in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.

The Russian side repeatedly denied any involvement in Ukraine's internal conflict. Moscow said it was considering filing a lawsuit against Paris if it fails to fulfill its contractual obligations regarding the Mistral deliveries.

Earlier in April, the Mistral manufacturer DCNS said that the construction of the second helicopter carrier for the Russian Navy was successfully completed.

On Sunday, Hollande said that Paris and Moscow are currently discussing possible solutions to the situation with the Mistral deal.

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