Russia will make a final decision on whether to buy a French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship by the end of the year, the Russian ambassador to France said on Friday.
Russia is holding talks with France on the purchase of Mistral-class warships on a 2+2 scheme whereby Russia will buy one or two French-built Mistrals and build another two under license at home.
"Very serious negotiations have been ongoing since March and we need to decide whether or not to buy [them]," Alexander Orlov said.
He said under Russian laws, "any such purchases are to be made through a tender," adding that France had fairly good chances to win it.
"That is, of course, if they make a more interesting offer," he said.
RIA Novosti
