Ukraine steps up Trump charm effort with Nobel overtures
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US President Donald Trump’s bid for the Nobel Peace Prize has been bolstered by a peace deal he brokered to end the war in Gaza.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV – Ukraine has yet to convince Mr Donald Trump to put sufficient pressure on Russia to force it to negotiate a peace deal, so it has deployed a new lobbying tactic: nominate the US president for the Nobel Peace Prize.
With Mr Trump openly coveting the prestigious award
“If Trump gives the world – above all, the Ukrainian people – the chance for such a ceasefire, then yes, he should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize,” Mr Zelensky said in comments released on Oct 9.
“We will nominate him on behalf of Ukraine,” he said.
Mr Zelensky has worked hard to win Mr Trump’s support, and appears to be making some headway.
Tomahawk missiles top Kyiv’s wishlist of American weapons it believes can inflict serious damage on Russia and force it to the table.
Mr Trump, who has expressed frustration with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin
Mr Trump has said he deserves the Nobel award, given to four of his White House predecessors, for what he has described as his efforts in securing numerous peace deals.
These include a claim that he brokered a truce between India and Pakistan, a claim India rejected.
On Oct 9, Israelis and Palestinians rejoiced after a ceasefire and hostage deal
Last week, a group of Ukrainian lawmakers submitted a motion asking colleagues to nominate Mr Trump for the Nobel Prize, arguing that it was a critical show of loyalty to a strategic partner.
“If we can’t show today that Ukraine and the Ukrainian Parliament absolutely and totally support Donald Trump and his peace plans, then what can we talk about?“ Ukrainian media quoted lawmaker Anna Skorokhod as saying on Oct 7.
Nominations for each year’s Nobel prizes close on Jan 31. Members of the committee can make their own nominations no later than their first meeting in February.
Kyiv is not the only government waging a charm campaign.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said on Oct 7 that Mr Trump deserves the honour if he can convince China
