NATO will hold a "long-planned" nuclear exercise next week despite rising tensions over the war in Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, AP reported.

The exercise, dubbed "Steadfast Noon," is held annually and usually lasts about a week. They involve fighters capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but not live bombs. Conventional jets, as well as reconnaissance and refueling planes, also regularly take part.

Fourteen of NATO's 30 member states will participate in the exercise. According to a NATO spokesman, the bulk of the maneuvers will be conducted at a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers from Russia.

 "It would send a very wrong signal now if we suddenly cancelled a routine, long-time planned exercise because of the war in Ukraine." It would be a completely wrong signal, Stoltenberg told reporters on the eve of the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels.

Firm, predictable NATO behavior, our military might, is the best way to prevent escalation, he said. According to Stoltenberg if they set the stage for any misunderstanding, any miscalculation by Moscow about their willingness to protect and defend all allies, they would increase the risk of escalation.

Stoltenberg described Putin's nuclear rhetoric as dangerous and reckless and stressed that the allies have also made clear to Russia that any use of nuclear weapons would have serious consequences. Stoltenberg says they are closely monitoring Russia's nuclear forces and  see no change in Russia's position, but they remain vigilant.