President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenksy deserves to be given a chance to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, according to former and incumbent EU officials.
36 former and incumbernt EU officials, including deputies and ministers, have asked the Nobel Committee to extend the nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize until the end of March so that they can nominate the Zelensky.
Read also; Nigeria borrows US$1.25 billion via Eurobond
These Eurocrats argue that the Ukrainian President should receive the award for his efforts in “resisting the forces of authoritarianism.”
“We believe that now is the time to show the people of Ukraine that the world is on their side. We therefore humbly call upon you, the Committee, to consider: Extending and thereby re-opening the nomination procedure for the Nobel Peace Prize until March 31, 2022 to allow for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine,” says an open letter recently published by EU officials.
The Nobel Committee’s website states that “In order for a nomination to be valid, it must be submitted no later than January 31.” Nominating President Zelensky for the Nobel Peace Prize now would signify a break with procedure since the deadline for the nomination has passed.
Currently, 343 candidates have been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. 215 of these nominees are individuals while 92 are organizations.
Volodymyr Zelensky was elected the President of Ukraine in 2019. His electoral platform was based on two pillars: fighting corruption and ending the conflict in the Donbass region.
On 21 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia recognizes the independence of two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. In response, NATO countries imposed the first round of sanctions on Russia the following day.
On 24 February 2022, Putin announced that he had made the decision to launch a “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine, within minutes of Putin’s announcement, the Russian army invaded Ukraine.
On 10 December 2012, the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of over 60 years of peace, reconciliation and democracy.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
