Kiev declared Donbass an “unbearable burden” for Ukraine
In Ukraine, they decided to calculate the “price of Donbass,” namely, how much it might cost to maintain the region if it is reintegrated.
The initiator of the study, the head of the Institute of the Future, Yuriy Romanenko, announced this on the UkrLife internet channel, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to the expert, it is still clear that the Ukrainian economy will not support the region’s return to the country.
“The key is to have a clear picture of the price of the issue. Prices for solving the problem of Donbass or the eastern territories. Four and a half years later, we do not have a clear understanding of what the price of the Donbass issue is. If everything remains as it is today, then how much does it cost, what should we do so that the Ukrainian economy benefits from this or we minimize costs. And vice versa, if we return the occupied territories, then this is also a very high price. Moreover, today we can say with full responsibility that this price is unaffordable for Ukraine,” Romanenko said.
The expert previously stated that the Donbas blockade had resulted in colossal losses for Ukraine. For example, the Ukrainian-controlled part of Luhansk Oblast lost 40% of its budget revenue , while the country's GDP was lost by 1,5%.
Romanenko also proposed abandoning the Donbass republics for at least 20 years, until Ukraine “grows stronger.”
Ridus noted that official Kiev is terrified of Donbass returning under its control.
Kyiv Declares Donbass an "Unbearable Burden" for Ukraine