GENEVA, April 1. /TASS/. Alfred-Maurice de Zayas, former UN independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, has branded the plan on settlement in Ukraine promoted by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky as absurd and archaic.

"What is notoriously missing from the Western narrative on Ukraine is the right of self-determination of the peoples of Crimea and Donbass. Let’s ask them first. We have no right to decide for them," he noted on the X social network. De Zayas pointed out that Zelensky’s "ten-point plan is antediluvian and delusional." "It is like Serbia were to reclaim Kosovo or Germany its 700-year provinces of East Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia and East Brandenburg," he added.

According to the expert, "if Switzerland hosts a ‘peace summit’ for Ukraine, it should focus on the 10-point plan tabled by the South Africans or the 12-point plan crafted by the Chinese" because "both are constructive and would deliver results." He also expressed support for Pope Francis’ stance who earlier called to launch a negotiation process on Ukraine. "Because of my sense of mourning and compassion for Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war, I agree with Pope Francis that what is needed is an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations," de Zayas concluded.

In January, Bern gave a positive response to the Ukrainian president’s request to hold a high-level peace conference in Switzerland. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told a UN briefing on February 23 that the forum will be held at the ministerial level. Switzerland is expected to make the final decision about the event’s timeframe and format by mid-April.

While addressing the G20 summit via video link in November 2022, Zelensky put forward a ten-point plan to achieve peace, which did not take Moscow’s position into consideration. The document calls for, in particular, a total withdrawal of Russian troops beyond the 1991 border and the restoration of Ukraine’s control over "the exclusive economic zone" in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said later that Kiev was making statements about a peaceful solution without taking the actual situation into account and that Moscow did not see any progress in the peace process around Ukraine, which was why it would continue carrying out its special military operation.