(VOVworld) - Russia has given France the green light to sell two Mistral helicopter carriers to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. France was supposed to deliver the carriers to Russia before both countries terminated the contract last month.

(Photo: cctv-africa.com)

The Egypt Independent newspaper confirmed the information adding that Cairo and Abu Dhabi are among the 10 countries pursuing the deal.

According to the Russian-language newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, France returned to Russia more than 1 billion euros it had paid in advance.

The 1.2-billion-euro deal was terminated after the EU imposed sanctions on Russia for its alleged involvement in the political crisis in Ukraine.