France Floats Out First Russian Mistral Warship (RIA Novosti)

Launch of the Vladiovostok (Navy Recognition)

Mistral Class LHD Bound for Russia Begins Sea Trials in the Atlantic (Defense Update)

France Should Return Money if Warship Deal Cancelled – Rogozin (RIA Novosti)

NATO Treads Carefully on French Deal With Russia (DefenseNews)

Conscience?

 

France: 'Conditions' Not in Place to Deliver Ship to Russia

Opinions in Mer et Marine about the Russian Mistral-class issue, the same conclusions as in some Facebook fora these days, adquisition by NATO (in French):

http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/bpc-russes-lepreuve-de-force

Stavridis: Russian Mistrals Could Work Well As NATO Rapid Reaction Force Asset (USNI News)

 

Suspecting that Putin will ultimately "win" in the Ukraine, this would be a bit of a thumb in the eye.

Russia preparing legal action over French Mistral halt (Jane's)

France Delays Mistral Delivery to Russia, But Still Meets Deadline: Russian Source (RIA Novosti)