On May 25, it was reported by Ria Novosti that the ministry and the USC failed again to agree final contract terms for Borey delivery, despite the intervention of President Vladimir Putin, but in a swift turnaround USC spokesman Alexei Kravchenko has told Ria Novosti he had information that the contract for the five submarines had been signed. The Russian Navy is to receive at least 10 new Borey class strategic nuclear submarines by 2020. The submarines, to be armed with Bulava ballistic missiles, are expected to constitute the core of Russia's strategic ballistic missile submarine force after 2018. Then-prime minister Putin said last year that the procurement of new warships and submarines for the Navy would be a priority over the next decade.