Donbas is not real estate on Airbnb

From UNIAN:

""Renting Donbas" 

Igor Petrenko, Political scientist, November 20, 2025 

The ideas currently being floated as points in a "peace plan" aimed at freezing the Russian-Ukrainian war are increasingly absurd. For example, The Telegraph, citing sources familiar with the terms of the "US peace plan" developed with Russian participation, reports that Ukraine, in addition to reducing its armed forces, banning long-range missiles, prohibiting the deployment of foreign troops as security guarantees, and a host of similar "demands," will also be forced to cede control of Donbas. However, it will allegedly retain ownership of the portion of the region it controls. 

The publication notes that the proposal to lease Donbas to Russians fits perfectly into US President Donald Trump's business dealings, as Donbas is rich in minerals. In exchange for the territory, Moscow will pay Ukraine, which will lose access to these rich lands, a land tax.

The rent (and tax) amount, however, is not specified. Apparently, the idea is that the parties will negotiate on the spot, as in a market.

But just imagine: a burglar breaks into your home, kills your family, destroys half the house, and then the "peacemaker" offers: "Okay, let him live in your bedroom, but he'll pay you $50 a month. Sounds like a good deal, right?"

Or maybe we should start paying "neighbor Vasya" 500 UAH a month just so he doesn't park his car on your lawn (after all, he considers that lawn "primordially his")?! 

In reality, such a "peace proposal" demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the following: 

- Donbas is not a property on Airbnb; it is an occupied territory with millions of victims; 

- an aggressor has no "lease rights" to the land they seized while committing genocide; 

- it is impossible to monetize a crime against humanity; 

- Ukraine is not a bankrupt company selling off its assets.    

I also have a question for the plan's authors: is it possible to "rent" Auschwitz? What about Babi Yar? How much would it cost to legitimize war crimes—is there some kind of price list? 

Unfortunately, this whole "peace at any price" narrative isn't diplomacy, but moral bankruptcy dressed up in an Armani suit. 

And by the way, Russia still owes Ukraine for "renting" Crimea since 2014. Maybe we should pay off the old debts first?"