Russia said Tuesday it is terminating a 1.2-billion-euro deal for two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships from France and will build its own instead, dpa reported. The first of the warships, which are designed to transport troops, helicopters and other heavy machinery to coastal battlefields, was supposed to be delivered to Russia last year. But French President Francois Hollande in September refused to fulfill the contract because of Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis. Russia has been wrangling with France to either send the ships or refund the money. "Russia is not taking them [the Mistrals]. That fact has already come to pass," said Oleg Bochkaryov, the deputy head of the Military-Industrial Commission.
