LONDON (Reuters) -NATO will begin its annual nuclear exercise on Monday, alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday, against a backdrop of heightened nuclear rhetoric from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

NATO will begin large-scale nuclear exercises involving thousands of troops and dozens of warplanes on Oct. 14, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced in London, according to the Associated Press.

NATO launches large-scale nuclear drills, Steadfast Noon, on Monday 14 October, involving dozens of aircraft and 2,000 personnel. Source: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and UK PM Starmer,