Oleg Burtsev
Khatuna Mshvidobadze: Don't sell Russia French Mistrals
December 08, 2009By Khatuna Mshvidobadze French Ships Could Mean Geopolitical Disaster Some in the French government want to sell Mistral-class ships to Russia, and the decrepit Russian Navy is eager to buy. But such advanced land attack capabilities in Russian...
Mistral: A cold French wind blows East
November 24, 2009By David J. Smith The French Navy amphibious assault ship Mistral—named for a cold French wind—visits Saint Petersburg today. This is not just a port call; it is a sales call—with ominous geopolitical implications. "We plan...
French Ship Sale to Russia Must Be Blown Off Course
November 18, 2009By David J. Smith The French Navy amphibious assault ship Mistral will visit Saint Petersburg, Russia next week. This port call signals that Franco-Russian relations thrive despite the fifteen months since the Russian invasion of Georgia during which...