Did John Kerry say "to the gilt" or "hilt"?

It's a common saying: to "go to the hilt" means to go up to the full extent possible (like thrusting a sword or dagger right up to the handle).

Meanwhile, any dictionary will tell you "gilt" means covered in thin gold leaf or gold paint.

In this AP story published in the Star (and elsewhere), the headline says Western powers are prepared to go to the hilt to isolate Russia over Ukraine. 

But the article itself quotes the US Secretary of State as saying G8 nations are prepared to go "to the gilt in order to isolate Russia".  

Did John Kerry really say gilt, or was he misquoted?  My guess is that he was misquoted.  If he actually said gilt, I'd have expected to see a "[sic]" after the word, exculpating the quotation-taker from any blame for the verbal blooper.