NATO in talks to deploy more nuclear weapons amid growing threat from Russia and China – as Ukraine’s top security chief warns Putin could bomb Kiev with tactical nuclear weapons if faced with ‘catastrophic defeat’

According to the head of the alliance, NATO could deploy more nuclear weapons against the backdrop of a growing threat from Russia and China.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s 13th Secretary General, revealed that there were live discussions among members about removing missiles from storage and putting them on standby as a deterrent.

Speak with The TelegraphMr Stoltenberg said: ‘I will not go into operational details about how many warheads should be operational and which should be stockpiled, but we need to discuss these issues. That’s exactly what we do.’

It comes as the head of Kiev’s National Security Council said Putin could demand the use of a tactical nuclear weapon if the Russian army is defeated in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Lytvynenko made the comments after G7 leaders warned that any use by Russia of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons would have “serious consequences,” The Times reported.

An F-16 fighter jet from the Dutch Air Force takes part in the NATO exercise as part of the NATO Air Policing mission

The head of Kiev’s National Security Council said Putin could demand the use of a tactical nuclear weapon if the Russian army is defeated in Ukraine.

Russian soldiers load an Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile launcher at a firing position as part of a Russian military exercise designed to train troops in the use of tactical nuclear weapons

Meanwhile, in Brussels, Stoltenberg warned of the threat from China, adding that nuclear transparency should form the basis of NATO’s nuclear strategy to prepare the alliance for the dangers of the world.

“NATO’s goal is of course a world without nuclear weapons, but as long as nuclear weapons exist, we will remain a nuclear alliance, because a world in which Russia, China and North Korea have nuclear weapons, and NATO does not, is a world in which Russia , China and North Korea have nuclear weapons, and NATO does not. more dangerous world,” he said.

Mr Stoltenberg claimed that China is investing heavily in modern weapons, including its nuclear arsenal, which the Secretary General said could increase to 1,000 by 2030.

He emphasized that the US and its European allies are modernizing their nuclear deterrent as a result of the increased threat from Russia.

“The US is modernizing its gravity bombs for the nuclear warheads they have in Europe and the European allies are modernizing the aircraft that will be used for NATO’s nuclear mission,” he said.

It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday accused Russia of not wanting peace, after Putin said he would only accept a ceasefire if Ukraine agreed to halt its NATO ascension plans.

Zelensky made the accusation at the end of a major diplomatic summit in Switzerland attended by more than 90 countries, making it the largest gathering in support of Ukraine since the invasion began.

At the conference, the vast majority of the 90 participating countries signed a communiqué in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty, and also called on Putin to return the children stolen during the invasion.