Putin's 'I Can Take Kiev' Comment Was Misquoted, Kremlin Says

Russia claims President Vladimir Putin's alleged comments last week about taking over the Ukrainian capital in a matter of days were taken out of context.

"If I want to, I can take Kiev in two weeks," Putin said during a phone conversation about the Ukraine crisis with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Italy's newspaper La Repubblica reported.

But Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov swooped in to defend the Russian president on Tuesday, saying Putin's words were "taken out of the context," according to the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS.

The conversation reportedly took place last week during an EU summit concerning the ongoing war against pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Barroso apparently mentioned Western accusations of Russian military action in Ukraine when Putin made the Kiev comment.

Barroso reportedly told his colleagues about his conversation with Putin.

"If that was really done, it looks not worthy of a serious political figure," Ushakov said after accusing Barroso of violating diplomatic practices.

"Irrespective of whether these words were pronounced or not, this quote was taken out of context and had a very different meaning."

Russia continues to deny any military involvement in the crisis, but acknowledged that Russian "volunteers" were in Ukraine.

Meanwhile in Belarus, peace talks that began Monday between Ukraine, Russian and other European officials were adjourned until Friday. Topics for discussion include terms for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange, USA Today reported.

Pro-Russian separatists, who have declared their own republic in eastern Ukraine, are also included in the talks. Fighting between the rebels and Ukrainian government troops has killed over 2,600 since the conflict began in April, according to the United Nations.

"A great war has arrived at our doorstep- the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two," Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey wrote on Facebook according to NBC News.

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