Bernie Sanders says his experience as mayor of Burlington, where he took on "everybody," shaped him into a "fairly tough guy" ready to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews in Chicago on Thursday night, the Democratic presidential hopeful was asked, if elected, how he would convince foreign adversaries that he's not a person to be messed with.

"I've taken on every special interest in this country. I am a fairly tough guy. When i was mayor of Burlington I had to take on everybody," Sanders told Matthews. "I am prepared to take on Putin, and everybody else."

"How do you let them know that?" Matthews followed up.

"You let them know that we have the strongest military in the world... and we are prepared to use that when necessary," Sanders said.

When it comes to articulating his foreign policy strengths, the Vermont Senator has struggled, although he has repeatedly dismissed criticism over his perceived lack of knowledge of the topic.

This week, the Sanders campaign reportedly began assembling a team of foreign policy advisors to help him out.

In Russia, there are some who might like to see Sanders stand up to Putin. As mayor of Burlington during the 1980s, Sanders visited the Soviet Union and the Russian city of Yaroslavl, where residents still remember him fondly.