UN chief Antonio Guterres was holding last-ditch talks in Brussels on Friday aimed at getting grain exports out of Ukraine as the clock ticks down to the end of a critical shipping deal with Russia.
The European Union said the “ball is in President Putin’s court” as the world waits for Russia’s decision on whether to renew the Black Sea grain deal that expires on Monday.
Britain accused Moscow of “cynical brinkmanship” over the pact, which gives safe passage to cargo ships in the Black Sea on condition that Russia and Ukraine can each inspect them.
Ukraine is one of the world’s top agricultural producers and a wartime blockade of its Black Sea ports was blamed for a jump in global food prices before the UN and Turkey brokered the deal a year ago.
In overnight remarks, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a plea for the deal’s renewal so that “there are no threats to food security anywhere in the world”.
“Russia must clearly realise that anyone who increases the threat of famine, particularly in critical regions of Africa, is terrorising the whole world with hunger, not just a single nation,” he said.
The grain question will be the “big topic” of Friday’s EU-UN discussions on Ukraine, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as she welcomed Mr Guterres to Brussels.
Twelve EU commissioners are meeting Mr Guterres and senior UN officials for a “working retreat” on the edge of Brussels, which comes 72 hours before the grain deal expires.
“The world needs it, Russia has a responsibility to prolong it,” Ms von der Leyen said of the grain initiative after praising Mr Guterres for his “tireless efforts” to renew it.
“Otherwise, global food insecurity will be the consequence. So now, the ball is in President Putin's court. And the world is watching.”
Mr Guterres said he had made “concrete proposals” in a letter to Mr Putin that suggested restrictions could be eased on a Russian agricultural bank in return for the deal’s renewal.
But Mr Putin said he had not seen any new proposals, according to Russian media. He told state television the Kremlin had not yet decided whether to renew the deal.
Mr Putin described the deal as “entirely one-sided” and said promises under the agreement had not been kept. Moscow has complained it is struggling to export its own agricultural produce despite assurances from the UN.
Russia was also angered by a Turkish prisoner release under which five Ukrainian commanders, who were captured during the symbolic defence of a Mariupol steelworks, were freed. They were in Turkey under the terms of a swap deal.
The grain deal signed in Istanbul last year was initially in place for two 120-day periods but Russia has increased pressure by allowing only 60-day renewals since March.
“We have seen at every renewal point, including this one, that the Russian approach is simply cynical brinkmanship,” said Barbara Woodward, the UK’s permanent representative to the UN.
She said cargo ships could be attacked by Moscow’s forces if the deal collapses and accused Russian officials of reducing grain volumes on the world market by “slow-rolling” inspections in Istanbul.
“Then, by signalling that they are considering refusing to renew the deal, they are also affecting global grain prices,” she added.
Before the grain deal, goods unable to leave from Black Sea ports were transported from Ukraine to neighbouring countries by road, rail or river barge.
However, these routes cannot handle the same volume of grain and come with practical problems, such as a time-consuming wheel change needed for trains at the Polish border because of different track gauges.
The World Food Programme this week said the deal had helped global prices fall by 23 per cent since surging in the early stages of the war.
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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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
SRI LANKS ODI SQUAD
Perera (capt), Mendis, Gunathilaka, de Silva, Nissanka, Shanaka, Bandara, Hasaranga, Udana, Dananjaya, Dickwella, Chameera, Mendis, Fernando, Sandakan, Karunaratne, Fernando, Fernando.
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 0 Wolves 2 (Jimenez 3', Saiss 6)
Man of the Match Romain Saiss (Wolves)
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