"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.

Putin wants to starve Ukraine of Western boots on the ground, ban the country from ever joining NATO and cap the size of its army, Kremlin sources revealed.

During his Alaska summit with Trump, Putin demanded the entire eastern Donbas region from Ukraine - dubbed the "fortress belt" - in exchange 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

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