Russian sailors get French warship training

AA group of 400 Russian sailors has arrived in France for training aboard one of two warships that France is selling to Russia despite US criticism, reports the BBC.

The sailors will spend the summer in Saint-Nazaire learning to operate the Mistral-class amphibious assault ships.

President Francois Hollande insists the sanctions imposed on Russia following its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine do not cover military hardware.

He says that the $1.2bn (£700m) contract is also too costly to cancel.

President Obama said earlier this month that he was concerned about the sale.

He said that in light of the crisis in Ukraine it would have been "preferable to press the pause button" on the deal, even though it was important for French jobs.

Read more of this report from the BBC.