You're reading: Business Insider: Putin once casually said he could destroy the US in a half-an-hour or less

In December 2011, then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was positioned to reclaim his role as the President of Russia after the formalities of the March 2012 elections. Fittingly, Putin hosted a lavish banquet at New Century, Moscow's richest equestrian club, for members of the Valdai Club as well as distinguished academics and journalists from around the world.

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