The military alliance started its annual nuclear exercise "Steadfast Noon" with up to 60 aircraft taking part on Monday.

The Kremlin said that NATO's annual nuclear exercise involving nuclear-capable military aircraft, which began on Monday, was fuelling tensions in light of the "hot war" unfolding in Ukraine.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will begin its annual nuclear exercise on Monday in western Europe. Named ‘Steadfast Noon’, the nuclear exercise will see the active participation of more than 60 aircraft in training flights for a period of two weeks.

Sahra Wagenknecht warned that if "NATO becomes party" to the Russia-Ukraine war it will escalate into a "nuclear confrontation."

BRUSSELS -- BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO will hold a long-planned major nuclear exercise next week, the alliance’s chief said Thursday, a few weeks after President Vladimir Putin announced changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine to discourage Ukraine’s Western allies from supporting attacks on his country.

This Monday, NATO launches its annual nuclear exercise, “Steadfast Noon,” a large-scale operation involving more than 60 aircraft and 2,000 troops over the course of two weeks. Though no real weapons will be used,

This year's Steadfast Noon exercises will primarily take place over the host countries, Belgium and the Netherlands, with additional flights over Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the North Sea, NATO said.