A senior Ukrainian lawmaker has officially withdrawn his nomination of U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing fading hopes for peace between Ukraine and Russia and a growing concern over Trump’s shifting focus toward the Middle East.
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told Newsweek on Tuesday that he had “lost any sort of faith and belief” in Trump’s ability to broker a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. Merezhko initially nominated Trump for the prestigious award in November but confirmed that he submitted a formal withdrawal of the nomination on Monday.
Trump, who returned to the White House in January, pledged to end Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II within 24 hours. However, as months have passed without significant progress, that optimism has waned. While Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-backed peace proposal in March, Russia has yet to sign on.
Trump’s frustration with the impasse has become more apparent, though critics argue he’s failed to act decisively. “He is evading—he is dodging—the need to impose sanctions on Russia,” Merezhko said. He also accused Trump of appeasement, stating the president had “virtually no reaction” to recent large-scale Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, told Newsweek.
“He has chosen the path of appeasement,” Merezhko said.
Adding to Ukrainian concerns is Trump’s recent success in brokering a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. On Tuesday, Trump arrived in The Hague, Netherlands, for a major NATO summit, just after hailing the ceasefire on his Truth Social account. “PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” he wrote.
However, tensions flared quickly as Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered airstrikes deep into Tehran, claiming Iran had breached the ceasefire—an accusation Tehran denied.
Ukrainian officials fear that the U.S.’s growing involvement in Middle Eastern affairs may divert military aid and attention from Ukraine’s defense needs. Merezhko also expressed concerns that rising oil prices due to escalating conflict could inadvertently benefit Russia financially.
Indeed, Politico reported Friday that the European Union has paused plans to impose a new price cap on Russian oil, as global markets brace for further volatility.
Trump addressed the issue in a blunt post Monday, saying, “EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s government announced it will formally nominate Trump for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for what it described as his “decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” in reducing recent tensions with India. India has downplayed Trump’s involvement.
While praise flows from some quarters, Ukraine’s withdrawal of support paints a different picture—one of a president whose peacemaking promises are starting to unravel.
