A top Ukrainian official who once championed U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize has now retracted the nomination, citing frustration over Trump’s handling of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told Newsweek on Tuesday that he had “lost all faith” in Trump’s ability to broker a ceasefire with Moscow. Merezhko originally submitted Trump’s nomination last November, but formally withdrew it on Monday.
Promise vs. Reality
Trump returned to office in January with a bold claim: that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. But months later, progress has stalled. Ukraine accepted a U.S.-backed peace proposal in March, but Russia has yet to respond.
As negotiations have dragged on, Trump has voiced growing frustration, accusing Moscow of “tapping” American negotiators but failing to take meaningful action. Critics say he’s been hesitant to impose new sanctions on Russia, raising concerns in Kyiv and beyond.
“Trump is dodging the need to impose sanctions,” Merezhko said. He added that Trump’s response to recent Russian missile attacks on Kyiv has been “virtually nonexistent,” and accused the president of choosing “the path of appeasement.”
Middle East Focus Alarms Ukraine
While peace in Ukraine remains elusive, Trump has shifted his diplomatic energy to the Middle East, brokering a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel last week. Trump urged both sides not to break the truce, writing on Truth Social: “PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!”
But tensions quickly reignited. Iran denied breaking the agreement, while Israel launched fresh strikes in Tehran, citing Iranian aggression.
For Ukrainian officials, Trump’s focus on the Middle East raises concerns about dwindling U.S. attention and resources for Ukraine — especially as global oil prices rise due to regional instability. Higher oil prices could financially benefit Russia, a major exporter, and stall EU efforts to impose new price caps on Russian oil.
“EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN,” Trump posted online Monday. “I’M WATCHING.”
Ukraine, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for a strike on a Russian oil depot in Rostov overnight, further escalating tensions.
Mixed Global Reactions
Despite criticism from Ukraine, Trump continues to draw praise elsewhere. Pakistan’s government announced Friday it would nominate him for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize, crediting his “decisive diplomatic intervention” during recent hostilities with India. Indian officials, however, have downplayed his role in those talks.
In contrast, Merezhko now says Trump no longer deserves to be seen as a global peace broker.
“He promised to be a peacemaker, but he’s shown little urgency in helping Ukraine,” Merezhko said.
Trump, who landed in The Hague on Tuesday for NATO’s largest summit of the year, has yet to directly address the withdrawal of his Nobel nomination.
