EditMoldova’s Sandu deflects Nobel talk, honours Ukraine’s true heroes
The real heroes, the President said, are those who sacrifice their lives or put themselves in harm's way in the name of peace in their countries
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has firmly declined consideration for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, redirecting attention to the true victims and defenders of peace amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.
On 5 February Sandu responded to a proposal from Arild Hermstad, a Norwegian parliamentarian and leader of the Green Party, who had nominated her for the award. Hermstad praised Sandu as being “at the forefront of defending democracy in Europe,” highlighting her steadfast resistance to sustained Russian efforts to destabilize Moldova through disinformation campaigns, illicit financing, cyberattacks, economic pressure, and attempts to influence elections and undermine its pro-European path.
“I am grateful that people are paying attention to our country and value our courage and resilience, but many people have been nominated for this prize,” Sandu told Moldovan broadcaster TV8. “Today, I was watching Ukrainian prisoners of war who returned home from Russia, and these are the people who deserve the Peace Prize.”
According to a statement circulated by Hermstad, the nomination was intended to highlight Sandu’s leadership “under sustained and well-documented Russian efforts to influence elections, destabilise Moldova’s political system, and push the country away from a democratic and European path”. Those efforts, he said, have included disinformation campaigns, illicit party financing, cyberattacks and economic pressure.
“Russia’s repeated attempts to destabilise former Soviet states are among the greatest threats to peace and stability in Europe,” Hermstad said, adding that “Maia Sandu and Moldova are fighting a battle on behalf of us all, and Europe should be deeply grateful for her leadership”.
Sandu, however, used her response to deflect attention from herself. The real heroes, she said, are those who sacrifice their lives or put themselves in harm’s way in the name of peace in their countries. She added that she hoped peace would come to the region as soon as possible.
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Since taking office, Sandu has placed Moldova firmly on a pro-European trajectory, advocating closer ties with the European Union while pushing back against Russian influence. She has repeatedly condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine and voiced political and moral support for Kyiv, a stance that has exposed Moldova – a small, landlocked country between Ukraine and Romania, to heightened security and political pressure since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
That pressure has not derailed Sandu’s domestic agenda. Her pro-European Action and Solidarity Party won parliamentary elections in 2025, amid widespread concerns over potential Russian interference. Hermstad has argued that defending democratic institutions against covert foreign influence amounts to a form of peacebuilding that fits squarely within the Nobel Committee’s mandate.
“Responding to Russian interference by protecting institutions, transparency and democratic elections is preventive peacebuilding,” he said. “This is precisely the kind of effort the Nobel Peace Prize should recognise.”
Sandu’s refusal to entertain the idea of a Nobel nomination stands in stark contrast to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed frustration over not having received the Nobel Peace Prize, publicly arguing that he deserves the award and encouraging allies and supporters to nominate him. Trump has also complained that his role in various diplomatic initiatives has been overlooked by the Nobel Committee.
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The Nobel Peace Prize, established under the will of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel and awarded since 1901 by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo, has historically recognised both individuals and institutions. Past laureates include Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Barack Obama and the European Union, as well as organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme.
Sources: The Kyiv Independent, Moldpres, Arild Hermstad’s post on Facebook
Caption: Moldovan President Maia Sandu addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 27 January 2025, warning that Europe is fighting two wars: Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and a less visible battle aimed at dividing societies and undermining trust in democracy, including through new technologies that disproportionately affect young people. She stressed that the threat goes beyond Moldova and calls for a firm, collective European response, tighter cooperation to defend sovereignty and democracy, clear rules for the digital space, and strong legal tools against foreign interference and dirty money. [Maia Sandu’s official Facebook page]
Updated: February 10, 2026 - 07:14
