Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to begin drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons following what his government has called "provocative statements" by Western leaders.

Putin has repeatedly warned that he would not rule out using nuclear weapons.

His Defense Ministry claims the exercise is "in response to provocative statements and threats" made by Western leaders.

"During the exercise, a set of measures will be taken to practice the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the ministry said in a statement.

While Russia regularly has drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, this is the first time it has publicly announced them, the Associated Press reported.

Tactical nuclear weapons include air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery munitions and are meant for use on a battlefield, according to the report.

The simulated nuclear drills come as Russia continues to warn Western governments about their involvement in coming to Ukraine's defense.

French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that he might consider sending troops to Ukraine.

"If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request, which is not the case today, we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question," the French leader said in an interview published Thursday in the Economist. 

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Macron's comments were one of the incidents that prompted the nuclear drills.

Another possible motivation for the drills is Poland's request to NATO that U.S. nuclear warheads be based there.