Trump emerges as 'leading contender' to win 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

 

A UK betting company, William Hill, has named US president Donald Trump as the “leading contender” to win the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, despite the ongoing conflict with Iran that commenced on 28 February.

Trump's current odds are 3/1, representing a 25 per cent chance, which is a decrease from the 55 per cent chance quoted by the bookmaker late last year.

Last year, Trump was overlooked for the award in favour of Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado, who subsequently presented her prize to him in January.

Several international leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, have publicly stated they nominated Trump for the prestigious award - the annual deadline for nominations is January 31.

Trump has expressed a desire to be recognized as a “great peacemaker” and has controversially claimed that if he does not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, then “nobody will ever get it”.

Trump was overlooked by the committee last year in favor of Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado, but we now price the U.S. President at 3/1 to claim the 2026 prize – a 25 percent chance. That is a longer price than we quoted late last year, when we rated Trump’s chances at 55 percent,” he added.

Trump has long claimed that he deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and his allies complained after last year’s award went to Machado. In January, she presented her prize to Trump, who called the offer “such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”

everal world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, have said they nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The annual deadline for nominations is January 31.

Trump has “no idea” if the war with Iran will “get him over the finish line” with the Nobel Committee, he told the Washington Examiner on March 12.

“I don’t know. I’m not interested in it,” he said.

But about two weeks later, the president claimed that if he doesn’t secure the prize, nobody will.

“If I don't get the Nobel Prize for peace, nobody will ever get it. I didn't get it. I'm not surprised. The person that got it was shocked — she’s a wonderful woman too, by the way,” he said at an investment event in Miami, Florida.

The president also said he wants to be known as a “great peacemaker.”

“I know it doesn't sound right for me to say this, but I'd love my legacy to be made as a great peacemaker, because I really believe I’m a peacemaker. It doesn’t seem it right now, but I think I'm a peacemaker,” he added.

There are 287 nominees for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, including 208 individuals and 79 organizations, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Thursday.

“The number of nominations remains consistently high, reflecting the robust global interest in the Nobel Peace Prize. In an increasingly conflictual world, there is no lack of candidates whose principled commitment and innovative action points towards a brighter future,” the organization said in a statement.

Putin powerless as China tightens grip on occupied Ukraine

Moscow has grown increasingly dependent on China for investment, trade and technological support as Western sanctions continue to strain Russia’s economy.

That reliance is now shaping developments far beyond Russia’s borders.
Quiet expansion

According to The Insider cited by Onet, China is steadily increasing its presence in occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, particularly in Donbas.

A report by the Eastern Human Rights Group found around 6,000 mobile base stations in these territories rely on Chinese technology.

At the same time, about 80 bank branches now offer transactions in yuan, signaling deeper financial integration.

Beijing has not formally recognized Russia’s control over Crimea or other occupied regions.

However, business ties continue to develop through indirect channels, with delegations and trade links quietly expanding.

Local authorities have also pursued partnerships with Chinese firms under the banner of “import substitution”, while China avoids breaching Western sanctions.

Projects on ground

Chinese companies have become involved in infrastructure and industrial activity across the occupied territories.

One example is a quarry in Donetsk region, where agreements were signed with firms supplying mining equipment.

According to Donbas-based journalists cited by The Insider, Chinese machinery is also being used in key mining operations in Luhansk.

Experts say Russia’s ability to rebuild occupied areas increasingly depends on Chinese funding and support.

“The reconstruction of the industry under occupation is already being financed with Chinese money. Without China, Russia has no way to quickly rebuild all of this,”

This cooperation often takes place through intermediaries, including private firms and individuals operating between the two countries.