DEAUVILLE, France (AP) — The presidents of France and Russia say their countries have reached a definitive agreement on the sale of four French warships to Russia.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters at the Group of Eight summit in Deauville on Thursday that the deal on the sale of Mistral-class assault warships will be signed in the next two weeks.
The multi-use vessels, which can carry up to 16 helicopters, cost about about €400 million ($563 million) to €500 million ($703 million).
Under the deal outlined in December, two will be built by French company DCNS and two by STX and Russia’s OSK.
The U.S. has expressed concerns that a sale would send the wrong message to American allies in central and eastern Europe.
The plan has alarmed Russian neighbors.
