The UK Telegraph reports the latest salvo from Russia over Ukraine: “Vladimir Putin has boasted to European leaders that his forces could sweep into Kiev in two weeks if he wanted.” According to sources, Putin told Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission president, “If I want to, I can take Kiev in two weeks.” The comments come just ahead of this week’s NATO meetings, when, The New York Times reports, “the alliance’s leaders are expected to endorse a rapid-reaction force of 4,000 troops for Eastern Europe.” The Kremlin responded to that expected news by ordering its military to adapt to “changing military dangers and military threats.” And meanwhile, Ukraine is shifting from an offensive posture of countering pro-Russian rebels in its eastern regions to a defensive one preparing for a broader Russian invasion. Things continue to heat up.