NATO Sees No Signs of Russian Nuclear Weapons Deployment – NATO Commander

NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Philip Breedlove said that NATO has seen no signs of Russia deploying additional nuclear weapons and thus does not plan to make adjustments to alliance’s nuclear posture.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – NATO has seen no signs of Russia deploying additional nuclear weapons and thus does not plan to make adjustments to alliance’s nuclear posture, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Philip Breedlove said Thursday.

In April, Western media reports alleged that Moscow planned to use nuclear force during the reunification of Crimea with Russia if NATO moved additional forces to the Baltic region. The Kremlin dismissed the reports as speculations.

Commenting on the possibility of Russian nuclear deployments, Breedlove said that the military alliance had not seen any changes recently.

“We have to be very clear – we have not seen direct evidence of any deployment of nuclear weapons [by Russia],” Breedlove told reporters.

Relations between NATO and Moscow deteriorated after Crimea's reunification with Russia and the escalation of the crisis in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

In April 2014, the military alliance halted all practical cooperation with Russia, accusing Moscow of fueling the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly denied these accusations and, in turn, voiced concern over NATO's military buildup close to its western borders.