MOSCOW, April 16. /TASS/. Russia will not demand penalties from France for its refusal to deliver Mistral-class helicopter carriers but the money and expenses incurred should be returned, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an annual Q&A conference on Thursday.

"I proceed from the fact that the incumbent leadership of France and the French are decent people and they will return the money to us. We do not intend to demand any forfeits or exorbitant penalties but it is necessary that all the expenses that we incurred should be returned," Putin said.

France’s refusal to deliver Mistral helicopter carriers has not affected Russia’s defense capability in any way, Putin said.

"We concluded these contracts some time ago primarily to support our partners and keep the utilization capacities of their shipyards loaded," the Russian president said.

France’s refusal to deliver Mistral-class helicopter carriers makes Russia think about the reliability of partners from the NATO bloc, "which lose a part of their sovereignty," he said.

"This reliability is questioned and we, of course, will take this into account in the course of further cooperation and military and technical interaction," the Russian president said.

In reply to the presenter’s remark that Russia’s refusal to demand penalties would allow France to ‘relax,’ Putin said: "Well, we’ll live with it."