US and Russia fire off veiled nuclear threats ahead of Alaska showdown talks between Trump and Putin
At a British air base used by US nuclear bombers Vice President JD Vance warned that peace was only possible if the 'bad guys' were afraid of America.
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Meanwhile it was announced that joint exercises to be held by Russian and Belarusian troops will include nuclear weapons drills.
The diplomatic war games came as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow.
Mr Trump yesterday warned there would be 'very severe consequences' if Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire.
He spoke out after a video call with European leaders including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Europe's political chiefs also vowed to hit tyrant Putin with more sanctions if talks fail.
Mr Vance, in Britain on holiday, yesterday addressed US airmen at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire.
The base is routinely used as a staging post by US nuclear bombers.
He said: 'It is impossible to bring peace anywhere unless the bad guys are worried that we have got a hell of a fine air force and a hell of a fine military to back up the peace to begin with.
'You make it possible for us to accomplish the President's goals through negotiation.
'You make it possible for us to go into a room and say, 'yes, we want peace, yes we want to work together, yes we want to bring an end to this terrible conflict but we have also got some great airmen'.
Trump & Putin's 1-on-1 meeting is a 'listening exercise', WH says as 'Vlad wants Ukraine to withdraw for ceasefire'
'The fact that people are afraid of you is why we are able to do what we do as an administration.'
A British defence source said last night: 'It's the big stick theory. It is deterrence — don't f*** with me because I will f*** you more.
'If we can't get that message over then we fail.'
Mr Vance's warnings came as Belarus announced it will hold joint nuclear drills with Russia.
Defence minister Viktor Khrenin said its troops would train for the deployment of nuclear weapons.
Kremlin said the drills were 'predominantly strategic deterrence' abut added: 'We should be ready for everything.'
President Trump has downplayed expectations of a breakthrough, saying his meeting with Putin was to get the lie of the land.
He also touted the possibility of a second meeting to include Mr Zelensky, who has been frozen out of the peace talks.
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Mr Zelensky, who was in Berlin for the video conference yesterday, warned that Putin was bluffing over peace after Russian military advances in eastern Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky insisted America, Ukraine and allies all want 'peace in Ukraine, peace in Europe'.
But he declared: 'Putin is bluffing, he is trying to push forward along the whole front.
'Putin doesn't want peace — he wants to occupy our country.'
And he repeated calls for more economic pressure on Moscow, saying: 'In reality, the sanctions are very effective, and they're hurting the Russian military economy.'
But Moscow's foreign ministry warned 'any attempts on our property will result in a painful response'.
Europe's 'coalition of the willing' has demanded a ceasefire, stronger sanctions and 'robust and credible security guarantees' that Ukraine will not lose any territory.
Russia wants a land swap to end the three-year conflict.
In a statement PM Sir Keir later insisted the UK's support for Ukraine is 'unwavering'.
He has previously vowed to send British peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
His spokesman said Europe's leaders thanked President Trump for his 'efforts in bringing Putin to the table in pursuit of a ceasefire to end to the ongoing bloodshed'.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe and America must 'increase the pressure' on Russia if peace talks fail.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said 'the ball is now in Putin's court'.
But Mr Trump's former National Security Advisor John Bolton reckoned inviting Putin to the US was 'a great victory' for the tyrant.
He said: 'He's a rogue leader of a pariah state and he's going to be welcomed into the United States.'
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