AMERICANS should make Donald Trump the next US President or risk being dragged into a nuclear war, according to close ally of Vladimir Putin.

Russian ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky believes Trump is the only person able to de-escalate mounting tensions between Moscow and Washington.

4 Zhirinovsky has been described as Russia's own version of Trump Credit: Reuters

4 Trump is 'the only person able to de-escalate tensions between Moscow and Washington' Credit: AP:Associated Press

By contrast, Democratic rival Hillary Clinton could even spark World War Three, said Zhirinovsky who has been described as Russia's own version of Trump.

Many Russians regard Zhirinovsky as a clownish figure who makes outspoken statements to grab attention.

However, he is also widely viewed as a faithful servant of Kremlin policy, sometimes used to float radical opinions just to test public reaction.

Related Stories PUTIN HITS BACK Russia CANCELS visit to France as relations with Putin collapse over Syria war crimes claims PUTIN INCHES CLOSER TO NATO West on war footing after Russian troops mass at border with Latvia and Putin moves nukes VLAD’S ARMY Is Russia preparing for nuclear war and what would happen if Putin launched a nuke? WORLD WARMONGERING Russia tell its citizens the WEST is hell-bent on nuclear war as tensions with US over Syria escalate PARANOID PUTIN Russia holds massive nuclear war exercise involving 40MILLION people as military tensions rise with US

"Relations between Russia and the United States can't get any worse. The only way they can get worse is if a war starts," Zhirinovsky told Reuters.

"Americans voting for a president on Nov. 8 must realise that they are voting for peace on Planet Earth if they vote for Trump. But if they vote for Hillary it's war. It will be a short movie. There will be Hiroshimas and Nagasakis everywhere."

4 Zhirinovsky said a vote for Hillary Clinton could even spark World War Three Credit: Getty Images

4 Crumbling relations between Russia and the US could spark a new world war Credit: Getty Images

Zhirinovsky's comments coincide with deep disagreements between Washington and Moscow over Syria and Ukraine and after the White House last week accused Russia of a campaign of cyber attacks against Democratic Party organisations.

Even as WikiLeaks released another trove of internal documents from Clinton’s campaign on Wednesday, Putin insisted his country was not involved in an effort to influence the US presidential election.

Fears of a nuclear war between the superpowers have escalated in recent weeks with a string of alarming announcements. Russia recently held massive evacuation drills involving 40million people, has reportedly built secret bunkers to hide top brass and recalled diplomats families back home.