Vladimir Putin: I can 'take Kiev in two weeks' if I want

Vladimir Putin: I can 'take Kiev in two weeks' if I want
(Image credit: Robert Cianfione / Getty Images)

Despite demands from the U.S. and its Western allies that Moscow reverse course in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has instead suggested he could topple the Ukrainian capital in a fortnight if he felt like it.

In a phone call with outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Putin bristled when their conversation turned to the allegation that Russian military vehicles and troops had last month entered Ukraine. "The problem is this," Putin responded, according to Italy's La Repubblica. "What if I want to take Kiev in two weeks?"

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.