NATO kicks off nuclear drills amid tensions with Russia over Ukraine

NATO has begun its long-planned annual nuclear exercises in northwestern Europe amid simmering tensions with Russia over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Western military alliance says the bulk of the war games, which will run until Oct. 30, will be held at least 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) from Russia’s borders. At least fourteen of NATO's 30 member countries were due to take part in the maneuvers, dubbed Steadfast Noon.

The drills would involve around 60 aircraft taking part in training flights over Belgium, the North Sea and Britain to practice the use of US nuclear bombs based in Europe. The US's long-range B-52 bombers and the most advanced fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads will also be involved in the maneuvers.

The maneuvers are likely to coincide with Moscow's own annual nuclear drills, which are normally conducted in late October and in which Russia tests its nuclear-capable bombers, submarines and missiles.

The drills came seven months into Russia's military operation in Ukraine, which was launched in late February, following Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the 2014 Minsk agreements and Moscow’s recognition of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

At the time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said one of the goals of what he called a “special military operation” was to “de-Nazify” Ukraine, as well as to defend people "who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”

Several EU nations -- including Germany and France -- are already training Ukrainians to use the modern artillery systems, missile launchers and air defense systems they are delivering to Kiev.

The bloc, however, has lagged behind in providing large-scale military training to boost Kiev’s fighting abilities against Russian forces.

The US, Canada and Britain have already been providing military training for thousands of Ukrainian troops, with London projecting to train 10,000 within this year and planning to more than double that next year.

President Putin has said that Russia would "protect our land using all our forces and means at our disposal, and will do everything to ensure people's security," implying the potential use of nuclear weapons.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last week threatened Russia with "severe consequences if they use nuclear weapons in any way."

NATO as an organization does not possess any weapons. The nuclear weapons nominally linked to NATO remain under the firm control of three member countries — the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Russia says the United States' decision to ship more weapons to Ukraine poses an "immediate threat" to Moscow's interests and hikes the risk of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the West.

MG