Ukraine: 'I Capture Kiev In Two Weeks', Russia's Vows;Warns NATO Leaders

russels: Vladimir Putin has boasted to European leaders that his forces could sweep into Kiev in two weeks if he wanted. The Russian President reportedly made the threat to the outgoing European Commission president during talks on the Ukraine crisis. Mr Putin told Jose Manuel Barroso, "If I want to, I can take Kiev in two weeks", Italy's La Repubblica newspaper reported. Concerns are growing over expansion plans by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who attended the Judo World Cup in Chelyabinsk, Siberia, at the weekend. It implied this could be the result of the European Union stepping up sanctions against Russia. The comments, relayed by Mr Barroso to colleagues at last weekend's EU summit, emerged as NATO announced it would build a new "spearhead" rapid reaction force of up to 4000 troops that can be flown into eastern Europe in 48 hours to respond to possible Russian aggression. Meanwhile, Ukraine forces were forced to retreat from a strategically vital airport in the east of the country after coming under a ferocious assault from separatists fighters, reportedly backed by a Russian army tank column. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/i-can-take-kiev-in-two-weeks-russias-vladimir-putin-warns-nato-leaders-20140902-10bcg2.html#ixzz3C9VPLcwf Footage broadcast on Russian state television showed tanks firing as combat raged around the airport building, which appeared to have been heavily damaged during weeks of fighting. "Luhansk. We are retreating. Long convoys of tanks, APCs and lorries full of rundown and exhausted soldiers are going past. Black from soot and dusty faces. Dried blood on their bullet-proof vests. The men have endured a battle with a battalion of new Russian T-90 tanks," Yuri Kasyanov, a Ukrainian activist delivering supplies to the frontline, wrote on Facebook. The Ukrainian retreat is the latest in a series of defeats at the hands of Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/i-can-take-kiev-in-two-weeks-russias-vladimir-putin-warns-nato-leaders-20140902-10bcg2.html#ixzz3C9VZCvRo