![]() But “what we don’t want is to do things out of routine.” Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told reporters Wednesday. “Russia will also be conducting its annual exercise, I think, the week after or just after the annual exercise,” U.K. Putin’s nuclear exercises though could make it more difficult for NATO to understand what Russia’s intentions might be, potentially increasing the risk of an accident. NATO is keeping a wary eye on Russia’s movements in its war with Ukraine, but has so far seen no change in its nuclear posture. “Any nuclear attack against Ukraine will create an answer, not a nuclear answer but such a powerful answer from the military side that the Russian Army will be annihilated,” he said in a speech in Bruges, Belgium. has not seen the need to make any changes to its current military posture or response, Austin said.Įuropean Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also warned Putin not to cross that threshold. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said of Russian threats to potentially use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. “Irresponsible and reckless rhetoric is dangerous,” U.S. The meeting, which usually happens once or twice a year, comes amid high tension as some NATO allies, led by the U.S., supply Ukraine with advanced weapons and munitions to defend itself against Russian aerial attacks. ![]() Stoltenberg’s remarks came after a meeting of NATO’s secretive Nuclear Planning Group, which was held among defense ministers in Brussels, as concerns deepen over Putin’s insistence that he will use any means necessary to defend Russian territory. Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Stephanie Lecocq Previous Next NATO Defence Ministers are meeting in Brussels Thursday as the military alliance presses ahead with plans to hold a nuclear exercise next week as concerns deepen over President Vladimir Putin's insistence that he will use any means necessary to defend Russian territory. Austin III, left, poses with Finland's Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen, center, and Sweden's Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist as they meet on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. He added that “even any use of a smaller nuclear weapon will be a very serious thing, fundamentally changing the nature of the war in Ukraine, and of course that would have consequences.” It will mean that a very important line has been crossed.” Stoltenberg said NATO will “closely monitor” what Russia is up to.Īsked what NATO would do if Russia launched a nuclear attack, Stoltenberg said: “We will not go into exactly how we will respond, but of course this will fundamentally change the nature of the conflict. Russia usually holds its own maneuvers around the same time, and NATO is expecting Moscow’s exercise of its nuclear forces sometime this month. They involve fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but do not involve any live bombs. The long-planned maneuvers are conducted around the same time every year and run for about one week. NATO is holding its exercise, dubbed “Steadfast Noon,” next week. The funneling of weapons to Ukraine by its Western allies has bolstered its chances of victory.BRUSSELS (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin would be crossing a “very important line” if he were to order the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Thursday, as both the military alliance and Russia are due to hold nuclear exercises in the next few days. The Pentagon says Moscow's poor tactics, from communications to supply-line coordination, appear to have hampered its progress. ![]() Ukraine has put up a fiercer-than-anticipated resistance to Russian troops. The Russian president's invasion of Ukraine is not going as smoothly or quickly as many military analysts forecast. The short answer is, like so many things with Putin, we don't know – probably not. Surely even Vladimir Putin – destructive, isolated, determined to restore his version of Russia's greatness – wouldn't use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, right? Nuclear risk assessments largely rely on public statements and official doctrine.Despite Russia's unpredictable leader, few see a major risk of nuclear war.Russia's invasion of Ukraine is not going as smoothly as military analysts forecast.
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