Poland will take part in nuclear deterrence exercises because it fears that Russian President Putin may use the nuclear button.

 This was announced on Thursday by Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak, Euractiv reports.

 "We know that Putin uses threats related to the possible use of nuclear weapons, so the response of the North Atlantic Alliance is training using this very tool," Blaszczak said, emphasizing the importance of having nuclear weapons in the current context.

 The US military will mainly participate in the deterrence exercises, the minister said, noting that Poland will also participate using conventional weapons.

 Media coverage of Russia's potential use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine has begun to raise fears among Poles, who now recall the Cold War era, when some 200 Soviet nuclear warheads were stationed on Polish soil.

 Although Poles fear the use of nuclear weapons, 54.1% would like Poland to participate in NATO's nuclear arsenal exchange program.

 Nuclear deterrence was discussed at a recent meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. Although Poland does not have nuclear weapons of its own, interest in the issue has begun to grow, particularly among government officials.