The US will give Ukraine 15 years of security guarantees in a peace deal with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has disclosed as peace negotiations intensify.
The country's four years of martial law will also be lifted “at the moment when Ukraine obtains” the security undertakings, the Ukrainian leader also told journalists on Monday following talks with the US President Donald Trump.
The US leader suggested that they were “95 per cent” of the way to agreeing on the security issue, while suggesting that he expected European countries to “take over a big part”, meaning there is a possibility the conflict could end in the new year. But of primary importance to Ukraine is the security guarantee that will ensure Russia does not invade the country again following a ceasefire.
Communicating with reporters via a WhatsApp chat, Mr Zelenskyy disclosed that he had asked Mr Trump to provide guarantees for up to 50 years, but that 15 years had been agreed.
“Without security guarantees, this war cannot be considered truly over,” he added. “We cannot acknowledge that it has ended, because with such a neighbour there remains a risk of renewed aggression.”
Counter-proposals
A flurry of diplomatic activity occurred over the weekend, with Mr Zelenskyy flying into the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for talks with Mr Trump and his team.
Just before his arrival, Mr Trump held a lengthy phone call with President Vladimir Putin and later stated that both countries wanted to end the war. “I do think we have the makings of a deal. We have two willing countries. We are in the final stages of talking.”
The main sticking point remains Mr Putin’s demand for Ukraine to surrender its fortress belt in the Donbas, an area that his military has been unable to capture, while suffering heavy losses. Mr Zelenskyy’s counter-proposal has been for a demilitarised zone, with both sides withdrawing from the line of contact.
But earlier, Mr Putin had struck a more belligerent tone, saying: “If the authorities in Kyiv don't want to settle this business peacefully, we'll resolve all the problems before us by military means.”
European allies remain cautious over Moscow’s intentions, particularly after a Russian missile barrage struck Kyiv just as Mr Zelenskyy travelled to the US. Asked if Mr Putin was acting in good faith, Mr Trump responded: “He’s very serious.”
The renewed diplomacy underscores mounting pressure on the US and European powers to end the conflict, which has upended global commodity markets, strained defence spending and clouded Europe's economic outlook.
Paris summit
The French President Emmanuel Macron also announced on Monday that European powers will meet in Paris in January “to finalise each one's concrete contributions”, he wrote on X.
Downing Street disclosed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had also spoken with the US President and had “underlined the importance of robust security guarantees and reaffirmed the urgency of ending this barbaric war as soon as possible”. Mr Starmer also emphasised the need to “sustain momentum in the coming days”.
But with Mr Trump apparently unwilling to pressure Russia to end the war, there remain questions over the likelihood of a ceasefire.
“The fundamental flaw in the current diplomatic push is the absence of the aggressor at the negotiating table,” said Yuriy Boyechko, the founder of the charity Hope for Ukraine. “Peace is not achieved by one side agreeing to terms with a third party.”
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
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
Jawan
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
