RUSSIA and America swapped veiled nuclear threats yesterday ahead of showdown talks between their two leaders over the war in Ukraine.

At a British air base utilized by US nuclear bombers, Vice President JD Vance emphasized that maintaining peace was contingent on the “bad guys” fearing America.

This statement comes amid reports that Russia and the US are contemplating a West Bank-style occupation of Ukraine as a means to secure a truce, while Zelensky and European leaders engage in emergency discussions.

According to The Times, the outlined plans would grant Russia military and economic control over the occupied regions of Ukraine through an established governing body.

Ukraine’s official borders wouldn’t budge, but the Kremlin would pull the strings in the regions it has swiped.

Apparently in support of the proposal, Witkoff and the Americans believe it could resolve the Ukrainian law that prohibits ceding territory without a national referendum.

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 Vladimir Putin in US state Alaska tomorrow.

Mr Trump yesterday warned there would be “very severe consequences” if Putin does not 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, Gloucs.

The base is routinely used as a staging post by US nuclear bombers.

He stated: “It’s impossible to bring peace anywhere unless the bad guys are worried that we’ve got a formidable air force and military to support the peace from the outset.

“You make it possible for us to accomplish the President’s goals through negotiation.

“This allows us to enter a dialogue and say, ‘Yes, we desire peace, yes we wish to collaborate, yes we aspire to end this horrific conflict, but we also possess some excellent airmen’.

“The fact that people are afraid of you is why we’re 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.”

Peace isn’t possible unless the bad guys fear you’ve got hell of a military

JD Vance

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.

Khrenin said the drills were “predominantly strategic deterrence” but added: “We should be ready for everything.”

President Trump has downplayed expectations of a breakthrough, saying his meeting with Putin was simply 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.

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”.

Putin doesn’t want peace — he wants to occupy our country

Zelensky

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.

But Russia wants to keep land it has seized to end the conflict.

In a statement 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.”