MOSCOW, April 2 -- The Kremlin on Thursday denied allegations that Moscow has threatened to use nuclear weapons to deter NATO from intervening in Russia-Ukraine tense relations.

Commenting on reports of some Western media that Moscow has threatened to use weapons of mass destruction if attempts are made to return Crimea to Ukraine or if NATO steps up its presence in the Baltic states, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described them as an example of demonizing Russia.

"This is a classic example of the ongoing hysteria to demonize our country. In fact ... they are not based on any particular information, and they themselves fear what they have written," the Interfax news agency quoted Peskov as saying.

These reports cannot be taken seriously, he added.

Peskov reminded that President Vladimir Putinhas never made remarks that could be interpreted as a threat to employ nuclear weapons.

Western media on Thursday claimed that Moscow has threatened to use its nuclear forces in case of attempts to return Crimea to Ukraine or weapons supplies from NATO countries to Kiev.