US accuses Russia of further escalation on Ukrainian border

The US on Wednesday accused Russia of continuing to escalate its troop build-up on the border with Ukraine and renewed its warnings against any “aggression” by Moscow.

“Russia continues escalating and has not reversed its troop build-up,” a US State Department representative told AFP.

Washington and its allies were “closely” monitoring the situation, the representative said, repeating warnings that “any further aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and would carry a severe price".

The statement came as Germany also reported “further troop movements on the border” between Russia and Ukraine.

The West accuses Moscow of having massed tens of thousands of soldiers at the border to prepare for a possible invasion of Ukraine.

Russia denies plotting an invasion and has demanded legal guarantees from the US and Nato, demanding the alliance stop its eastward expansion.

The US and its allies have already warned of unprecedented sanctions if Russia invades.

“We strongly urge Russia to de-escalate by pulling back troops from its border with Ukraine,” the State Department representative added.

“Our goal is de-escalation through diplomacy; the US is ready to engage in diplomacy in January through multiple channels.”

A rocket launches from a missile system as part of a ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile test in December launched from the Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia. AP
Russia published a revamped national security concept in January that states Moscow has lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons to counter what it sees as a growing military threat. Reuters
Russia said on October 1 it had launched a new hypersonic cruise missile from a submarine, the latest test of emerging weapons President Vladimir Putin has dubbed 'invincible'. AFP
A Russian Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile drives through Red Square in Moscow in May 2009. AFP
A nuclear missile silo is opened for inspection by Russian rocket forces at a site 70 kilometres from Saratov on November 12, 1994.
Master Sgt Tad Wagner looks over an inert Minuteman 3 missile in a US training launch tube at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. AP
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during a developmental test on February 5, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. AFP
A deactivated Titan II nuclear ICMB is seen in a silo at the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona, on May 12, 2015. AFP
A Russian strategic nuclear forces officer inspects a launching tube in Drovjanaja, Siberia, in 1992. AFP

Why are you, you?

Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
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The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
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Why are you, you?
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Ben Okri,

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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