India, Oct. 10 -- Russia on Friday backed US President Donald Trump's candidature for the Nobel Peace Prize, which is set to be announced today by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov reportedly made the statement just hours before the prize was scheduled to be announced.

Moscow has repeatedly said that it appreciates Trump's attempts to stop the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in comments published on Thursday that Kyiv would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize if he succeeds in securing a ceasefire.

Over the past few months, Trump has run an aggressive push for the prize, which includes public declarations that he deserves it and calls to Norwegian officials. The pressure on the Nor...