Some 400 Russian sailors have arrived at the western French port of Saint Nazaire for the start of a training mission to learn how to handle the Mistral-class French-made warship. <br /><br />Paris has sold two of the massive helicopter carriers to Moscow despite clamour from some of its NATO allies that the deal breaks sanctions recently imposed over the Ukraine crisis. <br /><br />But France has made clear that the 1.2 billion euro agreement to furnish Russia with four warships in total predates the eruption of tensions and is vital for its economy.<br /><br />The purchase was finalised at the G8 summit in Deauville three years ago. At the time, some NATO members also expressed concern that the vessels could be used against Georgia.<br /><br />The first of two Mistrals should be delivered from October while two more will be built in Russia.
