Russia denies Polish claim Egypt sold it warships for $1

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Poland's defense minister said he thinks Egypt has sold two French-made Mistral warships to Russia for the symbolic price of $1, a claim dismissed by the Russian military Friday.

Antoni Macierewicz made the assertion during a parliamentary debate on Thursday. He later told reporters he had the information "from good sources," but did not reveal any other details.

On Friday, Macierewicz added that "if Egypt would now withdraw from this operation, it would be a gain for world peace" and a good lesson for Russia.

France had originally built the two ships for Russia, but the sale was canceled after Russia's annexation of Crimea and the ships were sold instead to Egypt.

Macierewicz's comment comes amid strained ties between Warsaw and Paris due to Poland's cancellation of a $3.5 billion deal to buy French-made military helicopters.

In Moscow, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov dismissed Macierewicz's statements as "silliness" and "self-promotion."