NATO chief warns Russia of "devastating" repercussions if it uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that Russia will encounter devastating repercussions if it uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine during its ongoing joint nuclear-capability exercises with Belarus.

Rutte was asked at a press conference in Brussels to comment on the joint Russian-Belarusian exercises involving nuclear capabilities, which began earlier this week.

"They know if that happens [the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine – ed.], the action is devastating," he said

Rutte also stressed that NATO is closely monitoring the exercises.

On 18 May, the Belarusian Ministry of Defence announced the start of large-scale exercises involving the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support operations.

Kyiv described the drills as "an unprecedented challenge to the global security architecture".

Meanwhile, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said that self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has turned Belarus into a platform for Russian threats through his nuclear cooperation with Moscow.