Jens Stoltenberg calls Putin’s nuclear move a ‘dangerous rhetoric’

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to place his country’s deterrence forces, including nuclear weapons, on high alert is part of “dangerous rhetoric,” according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who spoke to CNN on Sunday.

Also read: US calls Putin’s nuclear force escalation ‘manufactured threats’

“If you combine this rhetoric with what they’re doing on the ground in Ukraine, waging war against an independent sovereign nation, conducting a fully-fledged invasion of Ukraine, this adds to the seriousness of the situation,” he continued. 

Also read: Putin’s nuclear stance a pressure tactic, won’t break them, says Ukraine

The Secretary General added, “That’s the reason why we both provide support to Ukraine, but also why we over the last weeks and months have significantly increased the presence of NATO in the eastern part Alliance, US but also European allies are now stepping up with more troops, more ships, more planes, and why we also have to realize that we are now faced with a new normal for our security.”

Also read: Ukraine, Russian diplomats to meet at Belarus border on Monday

He went on to remark that this is “just the beginning of the adaptation that we need to do in response to a much more aggressive Russia.”

Ukraine recognised Putin’s move as a pressure tactic, while White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki deemed the move unnecessary and called it a ‘manufactured threat‘.