Moscow has reportedly given its approval for France to sell two Mistral vessels to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, according to anonymous Russian military sources, Egypt Independent reported Sept. 3 citing Moskovsky Komsomolets. Egypt's Mistral purchase would be funded by a Russian loan. Earlier Stratfor intelligence had indicated that Saudi Arabia had planned to procure one vessel for itself and purchase the second on behalf of Egpyt. France had originally constructed the Mistrals to Russian specifications, but EU sanctions stemming from Moscow's intervention in Ukraine derailed the deal . Russian personnel are currently in France removing the Russian telecommunications systems from the vessels. The contract was formally terminated in August and France has paid over 1 billion euros ($1.11 billion) in compensation, according to Russia Today.