“LAUGHING” Vladimir Putin is laying a trap for the West by demanding to keep hold of Ukrainian land, the EU’s top diplomat has warned.

Sources from the Kremlin have disclosed that Putin’s strategy involves keeping Ukraine devoid of Western military presence, prohibiting its NATO membership, and limiting its military capacity.

At the Alaska summit with Trump, Putin demanded control over Ukraine’s entire eastern Donbas region, known as the “fortress belt,” in return for peace.

Russia has already overrun most of its two areas, Donetsk and Luhansk, but Ukraine is bravely clinging onto one well-fortified corner.

Zelensky has made it crystal clear that he is not willing to hand land to Russia as part of any peace deal.

Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, said these demands are a “trap that Putin wants us to walk into”.

A diplomat shared with the BBC, “Putin continues to escalate violence, seemingly amused, while avoiding any concessions from Russia.”

Trump has backed the need for “swapping of territories” in peace negotiations – raising fears he could be strolling straight into this trap.

Putin’s reel of demands has did not shift after the Alaska summit, according to new reports citing multiple sources familiar with the Kremlin.

Despite Western demands, Putin has rejected the presence of their forces as a part of any peace agreement, which contradicts ongoing security arrangement discussions between the US and Europe.

Putin is also contining to insist that Ukraine can never be allowed to join Nato – and that the size of its armed forces should be limited.

Kallas said Putin got “everything he wanted” and more out of the Alaska summit – which could mean he is less compelled to negotiate peace.

Putin believes he holds an advantage in the conflict, as pointed out by Kallas, allowing him to draw the West into prolonged negotiations while enjoying prominent summit attention.

And the ball is in his court to set up a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky.

All parties involved in the negotiations are willing that to happen as soon as possible – but the Kremlin is again dragging its feet.

On Thursday, Sergei Lavrov, an associate of Putin, suggested that the Russian leader is open to a face-to-face meeting, pending discussions on a series of unspecified “issues.”

The Foreign Minister claimed: “Our president has repeatedly said that he is ready to meet, including with Mr Zelensky.”

But he insisted the meeting would only happen “with the understanding that all issues that require consideration at the highest level will be well worked out”.

‘Fortress belt’ in Putin’s sights

It comes as Ukraine’s Donbas region has become a key impasse in the peace negotiations.

It would be a valuable prize for Putin with murderous potential – and one he has sought for over a decade.

At last week’s Alaska summit, Putin declared he would freeze the frontline if Ukraine handed over the last remaining enclave of the Donbas.

But Kyiv has consistently rejected the idea of releasing any territory it currently holds – setting up a major sticking point in the negotiations.

The Donbas is Ukraine’s industrial powerhouse and holds rich reserves of coal and metal underground.

By taking it all, Russia would totally suffocate the vital supply of those vital raw materials to Ukraine.

The Donbas is also a crucial strategic location in the conflict as a gateway guarding the central heartland of Ukraine – built around the country’s “fortress belt”.

This refers to a string of heavily-defended towns and cities which Russia has so far failed to seize control of.

The valley around the Kazenyi Torets river, which runs through the unconquered region, has been fortified into a defensive stronghold.

Over more than a decade, defensive lines have been embedded into the terrain and the slopes measured up for artillery ranges.

Ukraine’s army knows every inch of the land – hence the Russians have been unable to penetrate it.

With the Donbas out of the way, Putin’s ranks would find it much easier to storm through and take large swathes of central Ukraine in any future attacks.

It has long been one of the most Russian speaking parts of Ukraine – and political loyalties there have sometimes landed in favour of Russia.

While the remaining piece of land demanded by Putin may be small, the future of a vast area would be destabilised if it falls into Russian hands.