Russia to Buy French Warship

Russia is to purchase a Mistral helicopter carrier, one of the world's most advanced warships, from France, according to a senior Russian Navy official.

Russian Navy deputy chief of staff Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev said French President Nicolas Sarkozy had sanctioned the sale of one of his country's state-of-the-art Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia, according to a report on interfax.com.

"This is unlikely to happen in February or March this year, but work on the matter is continuing," he said.