Shockwaves reverberated through Eastern Europe tonight after Vladimir Putin boasted he could invade five NATO capitals inside two days. This came amid new reports that almost 4,000 Russia troops are massing in Crimea close to Ukraine's mainland. 'If I wanted, Russian troops could not only be in Kiev in two days, but in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw or Bucharest, too,' Putin was quoted as threatening, according to Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko. All are former USSR or Soviet-bloc cities and apart from Ukraine their countries are now NATO and EU members. Scroll down for video Putin, pictured here at a meeting of the Russian State Council, boasted Russia could be in Kiev in two days - and also in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw and Bucarest
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Putin was quoted threatening that Russia could be in Kiev in two days - and also in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw and Bucarest
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All are former USSR or Soviet-bloc cities and apart from Ukraine their countries are now NATO and EU members
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Allegedly claimed he could 'influence and block the adoption of decisions at the level of the European Council'
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EU failed to deny threat though the Kremlin dismissed report
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NATO's new rapid reaction force should be up and running within a year
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Ukraine called on the west to supply them with additional military equipment
NATO leaders have backed @placeholder claiming that a new rapid-reaction 'spearhead' force could be deployed within a year.