MOSCOW (Sputnik) — France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy believes a government decision to drop out of the Mistral ship deal with Russia was a mistake that hurt their bilateral relations, French lawmaker Thierry Mariani told Sputnik on Thursday.
Sarkozy is in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mariani arrived with the ex-head of state as a member of his delegation.
Mariani cited the former French leader as saying, "He said it was a great mistake, he said it was a completely bad thing for France, for relations with Russia because when we sign a contract we fulfill it."
Paris and Moscow terminated the 2011 deal on construction and delivery of two French-made Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia earlier this year. In November 2014, France suspended the contract, citing Moscow's alleged participation in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations.
