The United States is planning to deploy nuclear weapons in the UK for the first time in 15 years as a response to the growing threat from Russia, the Telegraph revealed on Friday, citing Pentagon documents.

"Procurement contracts for a new facility at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk confirm that the U.S. intends to place nuclear warheads three times the strength of the Hiroshima bomb at the air base," it reported, noting that "The U.S. removed nuclear missiles from the UK in 2008, judging that the Cold War threat from Moscow had diminished."

The disclosure comes after warnings that NATO countries need to prepare their citizens for war with Russia, the Telegraph said.

Russia has warned earlier that the deployment of U.S. weapons in the UK would be seen as an "escalation" by Moscow and "compensating counter-measures" would be taken.

(Cover: The Capitol and a stop sign are seen in Washington D.C., the United States, February 13, 2020. /Xinhua)