Reports of an impasse in contractual talks between Russia and France on the purchase of Mistral class helicopter carriers for the Russian Navy are false, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on Thursday.
Russia's Kommersant business daily reported on Thursday that last week's contractual talks between Russian state-arms exporter Rosoboronexport and French DCSN company, which were attended by government officials from both countries, resulted in deadlock.
"This information is false. It is a large undertaking, and there are always certain issues, but I would like to stress again - this information is unfounded," Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
Russia and France in January signed an intergovernmental agreement to jointly build two Mistral-class helicopter carriers at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Another two are planned to be constructed later at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the contract would set out terms for the purchase of two ships built by France's DCSN and licenses for construction of two additional ships in Russia for at least 1.5 bln euros.
France is expected to put forward the final commercial proposal on March 15.
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