President Donald Trump can no longer count on the support of Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
Merezhko, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of Ukraine’s Parliament, officially withdrew his nomination of the U.S. president, telling Newsweek that he had “lost all faith” in Trump’s ability to advance peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
Merezhko originally submitted Trump’s nomination in November 2024, citing the president’s campaign pledge to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of returning to the White House. But six months into his new term, Merezhko says there has been little progress, and the diplomatic process is at a standstill.
“Trump is dodging the need to impose sanctions on Russia,” Merezhko told Newsweek, accusing the president of pursuing a policy of “appeasement” despite recent large-scale Russian strikes on Kyiv. He criticized Trump for remaining “practically silent” in the face of those attacks, and said the president now appears focused on the Middle East.
Ukrainian officials have expressed growing concern over what they view as waning U.S. interest in the Eastern European conflict. Kyiv accepted a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal in March, but Russia has yet to respond. While President Trump has acknowledged that Moscow may be deliberately delaying talks, critics say he has taken no concrete action. “I don’t think Putin took the two-week window seriously,” said John Foreman, former U.K. defense attaché in Moscow and Kyiv, as quoted by Newsweek.
Merezhko confirmed that he sent an official letter to the Nobel Committee on Monday morning, informing them of his decision to withdraw Trump’s nomination, stating that the president “has chosen the path of inaction.”
The move comes just days after Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. Posting on Truth Social, he warned: “DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” However, the truce already appears fragile. While Iran denies any breach, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered “intense” airstrikes on targets in Tehran in response to Iranian missile attacks.
Merezhko also warned that America’s focus on the Middle East is drawing both political attention and military resources away from Ukraine. He expressed concerns over potential economic fallout, adding, “An increase in oil prices due to conflict in the Middle East would benefit Russia.” According to Politico, the European Union has even delayed implementing a new price cap on Russian oil for fear of market instability.
President Trump responded online, posting: “EVERYONE, BRING OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING,” on Monday.
Meanwhile, in a diplomatic twist, Pakistan announced Friday that it plans to officially nominate President Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, praising his “decisive mediation” during recent tensions between India and Pakistan. Indian officials, however, have downplayed Trump’s role in the talks, according to Newsweek.
