Splits emerged on Thursday in efforts to create an allied coalition of peacekeepers in Ukraine, with Britain and France deciding to despatch a "reassurance force" to the country to prepare for the end of the war with Russia.
What is at stake in Ukraine is the security of Europeans in a few years
Emmanuel Macron
Thirty European allies, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were brought together by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the latest in a series of summits on the deployment, which would involve Europe stepping in to back Kyiv, if US talks with Russia over a ceasefire come to fruition.
Not all participants were willing to move at the pace of the UK and France. "There will be a reassurance force with several European countries who will deploy," Mr Macron said.
"It does not have unanimity today, but we do not need unanimity to do this," he added, saying a Franco-British delegation would travel to Ukraine in the coming days to discuss the move and the future of the country's army. "These reassurance forces are a British-French proposition that is desired by Ukraine," he said.
Mr Starmer put it slightly differently, saying Ukraine should be in the strongest possible position as negotiations on its future take place. "We discussed further the plans for reassuring the peace, the 'coalition of the willing' and the military and operational plans, whether they're on the land, the air or the sea, but there was very strong support," he added. "We will be ready to operationalise a peace deal, whatever its precise shape turns out to be."
Mr Macron emphasised that members of a "reassurance" force were not destined to be peacekeepers, deployed on the front line or acting as any kind of substitute for the Ukrainian army. Not all of Ukraine's European allies would be represented in the force, with some states lacking "the capacity" to do so and others reluctant to join because of the "political context".
Yet despite the reluctance of some to start moving into Ukraine, the French President said the "Europeans are much more united than they were a few weeks ago".
After the Paris summit, a Franco-British delegation would begin talks over where such a force could be sent. It would have the "character of deterrence against any potential Russian aggression", Mr Macron said.
In addition, new training programmes for the Ukrainian army were approved in Paris by several European countries, as well as the acceleration of "loan disbursements to partially enable Ukraine to facilitate artillery purchases".
Mr Macron wants to "prepare what the format of the Ukrainian army of tomorrow will be". That includes discussing "what land force? What maritime capacity? Air force? What format in terms of size and equipment, to be able to respond to a possible Russian aggression?"
"These would be forces from a few [European] states, because there is no unanimity on this point, present in strategic locations pre-identified with the Ukrainians, who would sign a long-term support agreement, a reassurance of the armed forces, and would act as a deterrent against potential Russian aggression," the French President added. "What is at stake in Ukraine is the security of Europeans in a few years."
UK Defence Secretary John Healey will lead the next Ukraine Defence Contact Group on April 11, "to marshal more military aid and keep Ukraine in the fight", as talks in Saudi Arabia continue.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the deployment could spark a direct clash between Russia and Nato. She accused France and Britain on Thursday of hatching plans for "military intervention in Ukraine" under the guise of a peacekeeping mission.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
