NATO Chief Says Alliance Sees No Need To Alter Its Nuclear Alert Level Despite Russia's Threats

"We will always do what is needed to protect and defend our allies, but we don’t think there is any need now to change the alert levels of NATO’s nuclear forces," Stoltenberg said.

New Delhi: Despite Russia's threats, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance felt there was no need to change its nuclear weapons alert level, AP reported.

"We will always do what is needed to protect and defend our allies, but we don’t think there is any need now to change the alert levels of NATO’s nuclear forces," AP quoted Stoltenberg as saying.

NATO itself has no nuclear weapons, but three of its members, the United States, Britain and France, do.

Stoltenberg made the remarks after talks on European security with Polish President Andrzej Duda. They met at an air facility in Lask, central Poland, where NATO fighter planes from Poland and the United States are stationed.

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the spectre of a nuclear war after he issued a directive to increase the readiness of Russia's nuclear weapons citing "aggressive statements" by NATO and tough financial sanctions.

Stoltenberg stressed that Russia had signed a number of agreements, agreeing that nuclear war cannot be won and should not be fought.

NATO Chief Calls Putin's Nuclear Alert 'Dangerous & Irresponsible'

Earlier, NATO said that President Vladimir Putin's decision to put his nuclear troops on alert was "irresponsible" behaviour, news agency AFP reported. 

"This is dangerous rhetoric. This is a behavior which is irresponsible," Stoltenberg told CNN.

"And, of course, if you combine this rhetoric with what they're doing on the ground in Ukraine, waging war against the independent sovereign nation, conducting a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, this adds to the seriousness of the situation," he added.

Putin Directs Nuclear Deterrent Forces On High Alert

On Sunday, President Vladimir Putin directed Russia's nuclear deterrent forces to be placed on high alert amidst mounting concerns with the West over his attack on Ukraine, news agency Associated Press reported.

At a meeting with senior staff, Putin said that prominent NATO powers had made "aggressive statements," in addition to the West imposing tough financial sanctions on Russia, including the president himself.

Putin has directed Russia's nuclear weapons to be prepared for heightened launch readiness, according to the warning. He told Russia's defence minister and Chief of the General Staff to put nuclear-weapons units on a "special combat duty regime."

“Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic sphere, but top officials from leading NATO members made aggressive statements regarding our country,” Putin was quoted by AP in its report.

(With Inputs From Agencies)