At the world’s coldest and snow-covered region, Alaska, a highly anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, 2025, seems to have dashed Trump’s dream of winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
The entire world had its eyes on this historic meeting. Expectations were sky-high, especially from Trump, but the outcome was disappointing. The summit ended without any breakthrough, particularly on the pressing issue of the Ukraine war.
The joint press conference reflected the icy atmosphere of Alaska itself. Putin declared the talks “constructive,” while Trump claimed, “We don’t just want a ceasefire, we want lasting peace in Ukraine.” But analysts dismissed it as “digging a mountain, only to find a mouse.”
Observers noted that Putin appeared dominant, refusing to budge on Ukraine. Christine Lagarde, head of the European Central Bank, remarked: “Putin’s KGB background and experience left Trump with no room to maneuver.” Even American media admitted that Trump’s ambitions in Alaska fell flat.
Trump, however, refuses to accept failure—just as Indian PM Narendra Modi refused to admit that Trump’s intervention ended the four-day India-Pakistan war in May 2025. This mediation earned Trump a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize from Pakistan, a move that greatly pleased him.
Trump has repeatedly claimed: “I stopped seven wars worldwide, ended the India-Pakistan conflict, and want to end the Ukraine war. That makes me worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Yet, critics point to his full support of Israel’s brutal war in Gaza, which left over 60,000 dead, 100,000 injured, and nearly 2 million displaced. Trump made no effort to enforce peace there, raising doubts about his claim to the Nobel.
Supporters argue he brokered peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan in August 2025, ending years of bloodshed over Nagorno-Karabakh. Both countries, along with Pakistan and Israel, have nominated him for the prize. But his aggressive strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have drawn sharp criticism. Iran’s ambassador in Islamabad, Reza Amiri Moghadam, expressed shock at Pakistan’s support for Trump’s nomination. Former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S., Maleeha Lodhi, also opposed the decision, while Senator Mushahid Hussain later withdrew his earlier support after Trump’s attacks on Iran.
Adding to the controversy, on September 5, 2025, Trump even renamed the U.S. Department of Defense as the “Department of War”, arguing it was the original name during World Wars I and II.
Global circumstances have not favored Trump. His failure in Alaska, his inability to stop the bloodshed in Gaza, and Israel’s recent attack on Qatar (with U.S. backing) have all badly damaged his credibility.
