Mistral deal: Why are Russian sailors returning home?

Voice of Russia radio quoted information from Quest-France newspaper saying that 400 Russian sailors will celebrate the New Year in Russia, not in France as Moscow had previously planned.

According to the latest plan, before December 25, 2014, the sailors will leave the port of Saint-Nazaire on the training ship Smolny that brought them to France on June 30 this year.

This information contradicts the previous information that these sailors received. Responding to the French press, these sailors said that they were mentally prepared to celebrate the New Year on the Mistral. "Everything is fine, we are well-supplied, and we are mentally prepared to celebrate the New Year here, on this Vladivostok ship" - said a Russian sailor.

Mistral ship anchored in Saint-Nazaire port

Previously, Moscow officials also confirmed that these sailors would only leave when accompanied by the Mistral Vladivostok ship, regardless of whether their visas in France had expired. Moscow would force Paris to extend their visas.

Recently, information has also emerged from Paris alleging that among these 400 sailors are elite soldiers from the Russian marine corps, and that they came to France with the mission of protecting and defending the ship.

That information shows that the Russians were ready to stick with the Mistral until the ship was delivered, however, the latest information posted on the Voice of Russia radio as above shows that all plans have changed. This change is said to be surprising to those interested in this famous Mistral deal.

Even more remarkable is that this new plan was announced after French President Francois Hollande had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 17. They talked about Ukraine issues, agreed to promote a ceasefire agreement in this country, and discussed further opportunities for cooperation between the two sides.

It seemed that these negotiations had opened up, even led to new agreements, and the Russians began to ease the pressure they were putting on France.

The first Mistral, named Vladivostok, was launched in October 2013. In September 2014, the ship went on sea trials with Russian sailors on board. The second Mistral, named Sevastopol, was scheduled to be delivered in 2015. France has said it will continue to build the ship on schedule, but the possibility of delivery remains uncertain depending on the “situation in Ukraine.”

On November 25, 2014, French President Francois Hollande officially suspended the delivery of the first ship, the "Vladivostok", of the two "Mistral" ships to Russia. He explained his decision by saying that "the necessary conditions were not met" and that there had not been appropriate behavior by a major country in the crisis in Ukraine.

According to Dat Viet Newspaper