Russia Says France's Halt to Supply Navy Ship No Tragedy

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday France's decision to suspend delivery of a helicopter carrier to Russia over the crisis in Ukraine would not hurt its military modernization and reform plans, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

"Although of course it is unpleasant and adds to certain tensions in relations with our French partners, the cancelling of this contracts will not be a tragedy for our modernization (of the army)," Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov told the agency.

(Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel, Editing by Timothy Herifrtage)