Putin claims he could seize Kiev in "two weeks"

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened that Russia could seize the Ukrainian capital of Kiev in "two weeks," as NATO and various Western powers reaffirm their military commitments to eastern Europe.

The New York Times reports that Putin made the remarks in what was thought to be a private conversation between Putin and Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission. The European Commission is the executive body of the the European Union.

The remarks were first reported on by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Representatives of Putin at the Kremlin did not deny the remarks were made, according to the Times, but they did attack Barroso by alleging that he leaked the details of the conversation to the Italian media.  

The exact words spoken by Putin were quoted as, "if I want, I will take Kiev in two weeks."

In response to the flurry of controversy that the remarks have elicited Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's envoy to the EU, has demanded the release of Barroso's transcripts and recordings of the conversation within two days, according to the Times.

The Times notes that as the tensions in Europe increase, representatives of NATO are meeting to discuss and most likely approve plans for the creation of a force of 4,000 soldiers responsible for Eastern Europe.

Another measure to counter Russian influence in the region and bolster the Ukrainian military is the holding of military exercises in Ukraine. Reuters reports that 1,000 U.S. troops and soldiers from a number of allies will participate in joint training exercises known as Rapid Trident at a Ukrainian military facility.

Reuters also reports that in October, 600 troops and a number of tanks will be redeployed from Poland to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.