Former US president Donald Trump plays a round of golf at his Turnberry course in Scotland on May 2. Getty
Former US president Donald Trump plays a round of golf at his Turnberry course in Scotland on May 2. Getty
Former US president Donald Trump plays a round of golf at his Turnberry course in Scotland on May 2. Getty
Former US president Donald Trump plays a round of golf at his Turnberry course in Scotland on May 2. Getty

‘I could end Ukraine war in 24 hours’, Donald Trump tells UK TV


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Donald Trump told the UK’s GB News that he could end the war in Ukraine in a day because of his relationships with Ukrainian and Russian presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.

"I know Zelenskyy well. I know Putin well. I will get that ended in a period of …100 per cent,” the former president said.

“That deal would be easy."

Later in the interview, Mr Trump said he told Mr Putin: “You're not going in.”

“President Xi of China would never even be talking about Taiwan. We had that conversation strongly,” he said.

"I stopped North Korea from doing really bad things. And my relationship with Kim Jong-un is very good. Who knows what's going to happen there?

“Iran was going to make a great deal. They were going to be happy. I was going to be happy. We're going to have a great relationship.

"Now they're out of control. They're totally out of control. This world is blowing up around us."

Former US president Donald Trump appears in court - in pictures

  • Former US president Donald Trump appears in court in New York City with members of his legal team for an arraignment on charges from his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury after an inquiry into hush money paid to an adult film actress. Reuters
    Former US president Donald Trump appears in court in New York City with members of his legal team for an arraignment on charges from his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury after an inquiry into hush money paid to an adult film actress. Reuters
  • Mr Trump at the defence table with his team of lawyers. AP
    Mr Trump at the defence table with his team of lawyers. AP
  • Mr Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City. Reuters
    Mr Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City. Reuters
  • Mr Trump walks towards the Manhattan Criminal Court room in New York. EPA
    Mr Trump walks towards the Manhattan Criminal Court room in New York. EPA
  • The former president leaves Trump Tower for Manhattan criminal court in New York. AP
    The former president leaves Trump Tower for Manhattan criminal court in New York. AP
  • Mr Trump arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse after his indictment by a grand jury. Reuters
    Mr Trump arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse after his indictment by a grand jury. Reuters
  • Mr Trump arrives at the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AP
    Mr Trump arrives at the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AP
  • Mr Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York before a hearing during which he will face criminal charges. AP
    Mr Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York before a hearing during which he will face criminal charges. AP
  • Police gather outside the courthouse, where Mr Trump will be arraigned. Getty / AFP
    Police gather outside the courthouse, where Mr Trump will be arraigned. Getty / AFP
  • Supporters of the former US president protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City. AFP
    Supporters of the former US president protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City. AFP
  • A Trump supporter yells at members of the press outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP
    A Trump supporter yells at members of the press outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP
  • A Trump supporter holds a placard outside Trump Tower on the day of Mr Trump's planned court appearance. Reuters
    A Trump supporter holds a placard outside Trump Tower on the day of Mr Trump's planned court appearance. Reuters
  • Anti-Trump protesters unfurl a banner outside the court. Bloomberg
    Anti-Trump protesters unfurl a banner outside the court. Bloomberg
  • A person dressed as Mr Trump rides past Trump Tower. AFP
    A person dressed as Mr Trump rides past Trump Tower. AFP
  • Supporters of Mr Trump argue with counter-protesters outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP
    Supporters of Mr Trump argue with counter-protesters outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP
  • A flag with an image of Mr Trump waves outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse. Reuters
    A flag with an image of Mr Trump waves outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse. Reuters
  • Opponents of Mr Trump protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP
    Opponents of Mr Trump protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney's office. AFP
  • A supporter of former President Donald Trump protests outside Trump Tower in New York. AP Photo
    A supporter of former President Donald Trump protests outside Trump Tower in New York. AP Photo
  • People gather at Collect Pond Park to show their support, or lack thereof, for Mr Trump. EPA
    People gather at Collect Pond Park to show their support, or lack thereof, for Mr Trump. EPA
  • Supporters of Mr Trump stand near Trump Tower in New York, New York. EPA
    Supporters of Mr Trump stand near Trump Tower in New York, New York. EPA

Moving to the current conflict in Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion, Mr Trump said: "That war has to be stopped. That was a disaster.

"And I'm talking more than money. I'm talking about human life, it's far greater than anyone thinks.

“You don't knock down a whole city and say two people got hurt. Thousands of people are being killed in the cities that are being knocked down.

"They're in those big apartment houses and they are big buildings."

He spoke warmly about King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, adding he had a "little disagreement" with the monarch, who he said was an "environmentalist to the nth degree", over wind power.

When asked about the coming coronation, Mr Trump said he was "surprised" Prince Harry had been invited.

"I think it's going to be a great day and I think that they will do a great job and he loves the country," he said.

"And really, I get to know him quite well, and he loves the country, really loves the country, and he loves his mother.

"And that's why I thought she was treated so disrespectfully by Meghan — and just no reason to do that. I was actually surprised that Harry was invited, to be honest."

Mr Trump called Prince Harry's book Spare, which included personal revelations about members of the royal family, "horrible".

He accused his successor as US President, Joe Biden, of disrespecting the king by opting not to attend the coronation.

Mr Trump speculated that the 80-year-old White House incumbent would be “sleeping” at his American home instead of taking up the invitation to be at the Westminster Abbey ceremony on Saturday.

The billionaire businessman, who was defeated at the 2020 US presidential election by Mr Biden, said his Democrat rival was not physically up to being the country’s leader.

“I was surprised when I heard that he wasn’t coming,” Mr Trump said. “I think it’s very disrespectful for him not to be [at the coronation].”

Mr Trump predicted that he had a “very good chance” of winning the next election if he secures the Republican nomination to take on Mr Biden.

Bemoaning the performance of Mr Biden’s administration, he said: “When you have somebody that’s going to be sleeping instead of coming to the coronation as President of the United States, I think it’s a bad thing.”

Speaking directly to US voters, he promised he would get rid of "crime-infested rat holes" and promised to make the US "the greatest economy in the history of the world" once more.

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Dir: Roar Uthaug
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​​​​​​​two stars

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

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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

Updated: May 03, 2023, 8:20 PM