ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump is doing "a lot" to resolve complex crises around the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday, following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Venezuelan opposition leader despite some countries recommending Trump's name for the honor.

“There have been cases where the committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to people who have done nothing for peace,” Putin told a press conference in Dushanbe, ending a three-day visit to Tajikistan, arguing that such decisions have done “enormous damage” to the award’s prestige.

He said the Nobel Committee has consequently lost its "authority” and voiced uncertainty over whether Trump deserved the award.

​​But he really does a lot to resolve such complex crises that lasted for years, even decades,” Putin added, citing the situation in the Middle East as the "most striking example," arguing it would be a “historic event” if Trump’s new 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip is implemented.

On Ukraine, Putin reaffirmed his belief that Trump is "sincerely striving" to end the war, which is now over 3 1/2 years old.

Earlier Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Although Trump had been publicly lobbying for himself as a worthy recipient, Machado was awarded the prize "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela."

Russia and Venezuela enjoy good relations.

The White House later criticized the Nobel Committee, with spokesman Steven Cheung accusing it of placing "politics over peace.”

Trump also thanked his Russian counterpart for speaking out in his defense.

"Thank you to President Putin!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, sharing footage of Putin's remarks.  

'Crisis of emotions'

Asked about Azerbaijani-Russian relations, Putin rebuffed the suggestion of any "crisis" between the two.

"If this were a crisis in interstate relations, we wouldn't have seen growth in trade and economic ties. But despite everything we've seen and everything we've encountered, growth — and significant growth — has continued," Putin said.

He admitted what he called a "crisis of emotions," blaming it on last year’s Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) plane crash, which killed 38 out of 67 people on board.

Putin called the crash a "tragic event,” adding that the investigation surrounding it is nearing completion and that he discussed it with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday.

"I sincerely hope that we have turned this page, will move forward, and will, without any complications, develop our contacts and implement those big, truly big plans that both countries have in logistics, industrial cooperation, and, by the way, in the humanitarian sphere as well," he added.

Ties between the countries were strained after an AZAL plane crashed in Kazakhstan last December. Putin spoke on the phone with Aliyev three days after the crash, offering condolences and apologizing for the part of the incident having taken place in Russian airspace.

A day later, Aliyev accused Russia of unintentionally shooting down the plane, urging Moscow to accept responsibility, punish those responsible, and provide compensation.

During a meeting with Aliyev in Dushanbe yesterday, Putin pledged that the Russian side will do everything necessary in such cases "in terms of compensation."  

New START & Tomahawk missiles

The Russian president also commented on the New START Treaty, saying there is enough time to extend the nuclear arms control treaty before it expires next February, provided there is "goodwill" from the US.

He confirmed contacts between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the US State Department on this, but also said the issue is "not critical" for Moscow if Washington decides "they don't need it."

Putin said Russia's response to the potential transfer of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine by the US will be to strengthen its own air defense system.

On whether the potential of his summit with Trump this August in Alaska has been "exhausted," Putin argued that both countries understand how to resolve the Ukraine war by peaceful means, but also highlighted its complexity.

Russia may soon have the opportunity to announce the "new weapons we once announced," he added.

"It's being developed, we're testing it, and it's going well," he said, without further elaboration.  

* Diyar Guldogan from Washington, DC contributed to this report