Nato holds nuclear talks amid Ukraine war tension, Russia threats
- Alliance’s Nuclear Planning Group met ahead of an annual nuclear exercise next week; ‘this is routine, it’s all about readiness’
- Nato meeting also unveiled plans to strengthen Europe’s air defences after committing more weapons to Kyiv; Moscow said admitting Ukraine to Nato could trigger WW3
Nato’s secretive Nuclear Planning Group met on Thursday as the military alliance presses ahead with plans to hold a nuclear exercise next week amid deep concerns over President Vladimir Putin’s insistence that he will use any means necessary to defend Russian territory.
Defence ministers led the session, which usually happens once or twice a year, at Nato headquarters in Brussels. It comes against a backdrop of high tension as some Nato allies, led by the US, supply Ukraine with advanced weapons and munitions to defend itself against Russian aerial attacks.
Nato is keeping a wary eye on Russia’s movements but has so far seen no change in its nuclear posture.
But additional uncertainty comes from the fact that Russia is also due to hold its own nuclear exercises soon, possibly at the same time as Nato or just after, according to Nato diplomats. That could complicate the 30-country military organisation’s reading of the war and of Moscow’s intentions.
02:17
‘Sabotage’ behind gas leaks in Russia’s Nord Stream pipelines, say EU, Nato officials
“Russia will also be conducting its annual exercise, I think, the week after or just after the annual exercise,” UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told reporters. But “what we don’t want is to do things out of routine”.