NATO will not outline response to hypothetical Russian nuclear strike: Stoltenberg | FULL

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke with reporters on Thursday as the alliance's secretive Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) met over plans to press ahead with holding a nuclear exercise next week amid ongoing concerns over threats from Russia.

Any use of nuclear weapons by Russia in Ukraine will have serious consequences, but NATO will not spell out exactly how it would respond, Stoltenberg said during the press conference.

"It will have severe consequences if Russia uses any kind of nuclear weapon against Ukraine," Stoltenberg told reporters.

"We will not go into how exactly [NATO] will respond, but of course this will fundamentally change the nature of the conflict. It will mean that a very important line has been crossed. Even any use of a smaller nuclear weapon will be a very serious thing, changing the nature of the war in Ukraine."

Stoltenberg said NATO would remain "very vigilant" in the coming weeks as Russia holds its own nuclear drills.

President Vladimir Putin has insisted he will use any means necessary to defend Russian territory as the war in Ukraine continues. While NATO is keeping an eye on Russia's movements, it has so far seen no change in its nuclear posture, according to officials within the alliance.

NATO is in discussions with defence companies and members of the alliance on how to boost weapons production and replenish stocks that have been wound down by deliveries of material to support Ukraine in its war with Russia, the alliance's chief said.

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