The owner of the New England Patriots once claimed that Vladimir Putin put on one of his Super Bowl rings and “took it without permission” after making a chilling comment.
Robert Kraft met the Russian president back in 2005 after the Patriots had beaten the Philadelphia Eagles, at Super Bowl XXXIX.
It was their third Super Bowl victory across just three years and had earned Kraft his third championship ring, Daily Star reports.
Although he has gone on to receive another three of the rings, Kraft wasn't initially keen on losing one of his first three - following some confusion during a meeting with Putin.
However, Kraft later revealed that he was pleased his ring was in the possession of Putin, despite it having both sentimental and monetary value.
Click here to follow our live blog with the latest updates
Appearing in the series 50 Rings, 50 Days , Kraft said in 2013: "I took out the ring and showed it to [Putin], and he put it on and he goes, 'I can kill someone with this ring'.
"I put my hand out and he put it in his pocket, and three KGB guys got around him and walked out."
Despite wanting the ring back, Kraft claims that he was advised by White House staff not to risk causing World War III over a piece of jewellery.
He continued: "It would really be in the best interest of US-Soviet relations if you meant to give the ring as a present.
"I really didn't [want to]. I had an emotional tie to the ring, it has my name on it.
"I don't want to see it on eBay.
"There was a pause on the other end of the line, and the voice repeated, 'It would really be in the best interest if you meant to give the ring as a present.'"
However, Putin's spokesman at the time Dmitry Peskov said: "I was standing 20 centimetres away from him and Mr Putin and saw and heard how Mr Kraft gave this ring as a gift."
A spokesperson for The Kraft Group responded: "He (Kraft) loves that the ring is at the Kremlin.
"And as he stated back in 2005, he continues to have great respect for Russia and the leadership of President Putin."
