French Mistral Ship For Russia Starts Sea Trials Despite Suspension Of Delivery

French President François Hollande said last week that France was halting the controversial delivery of a warship to Russia, after an international uproar over giving Russia a sophisticated weapon. But on Saturday, 200 Russian sailors departed the French port of Saint-Nazaire aboard the Mistral-class helicopter carrier, dubbed the Vladivostok, to conduct sea trials on the new ship, according to several news reports.