(VOVworld) – Egypt has agreed to purchase two French Mistral-class helicopter carriers that were previously contracted to go to Russia for 1.3 billion USD, a deal that was suspended because of the crisis in Ukraine.

The Mistral-class warships are powerful vessels equipped with six helicopter landing zones. (Photo: cnn)

It was announced Wednesday that French President Francois Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reached an agreement Tuesday in which France will sell the two warships to Egypt and will repay the money advanced by Russia.
Deteriorating relations between Russia and the West over Ukraine made it clear that the contract between France and Russia undercut efforts to isolate Russia.