International Link

Putin says France must repay Russia's costs for undelivered helicopter carriers

The Russian leader said he sought only to recover outlay on the French-built warships, a 1.2-billion-euro deal suspended over the Ukraine crisis.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

Russia will not impose penalties against France over its failure to fulfill a 1.2-billion-euro contract to supply two Mistral helicopter carriers, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, reports Reuters.

"We do intend to seek any penalties or fines ... but it is necessary that all costs we have incurred are covered," Putin said during his annual televised call-in show.

"I assume the current French leadership and the French generally are good people and will return our money," he said.

France last year suspended indefinitely the delivery of the first of the two warships ordered by Russia because of Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis.

Read more of this report from Reuters.