French defence officials say France has agreed to sell Russia an advanced amphibious warship and is considering a Russian request for three more.
Jacques de Lajugie, head of international development at the French arms agency DGA, told a news conference on Monday that among the outstanding questions are where the Mistral would be built.
No information about a timetable for the delivery of the one ship that France has so far approved was immediately available.
Possessing a Mistral would significantly increase the Russian military’s capability to mount offensives. The prospect of a French ship being sold to Russia has alarmed some ex-Soviet countries.