On November 4, negotiations dedicated to security guarantees for Ukraine took place in Brussels. According to the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, this issue was the main topic of the day: representatives of Ukraine, together with colleagues from France, the UK, Germany, the USA, and NATO, discussed what the package of guarantees from the United States and other partners should look like. In parallel, the meeting addressed a new European security strategy, indicating an attempt to link bilateral commitments with a broader security architecture for the continent.
"Not a political declaration, but a working system"
Umerov emphasized the practical component of the package being discussed. According to him, it is essential for Ukraine that security guarantees do not remain at the level of a political declaration but turn into a genuinely working system. The head of the Foreign Intelligence Service also noted that work on this track is ongoing, and details and subsequent steps will be announced later. This phrasing underscores that, at the time of the talks, it was about the process of developing mechanisms rather than a finished document.
Reconstruction and funding for 2027
The Brussels meeting on November 4 was not limited to security issues. As Ukrainian media recalled, on the same day, they discussed the recovery plan for Ukraine, attracting investment, and securing funding for 2027. Thus, the negotiation track combines two interconnected blocks: long-term security guarantees and an economic recovery program, which is consistent with Kyiv's statements about the need to link peace commitments with specific resources.
Trilateral format and preparations for Abu Dhabi
The context for the Brussels negotiations was the preparation for trilateral contacts between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia. Reports indicate that on the evening of November 4, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spent about an hour and a half discussing the preparation of a delegation meeting with US administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which, according to Ukrainian sources, is scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi. Zelenskyy declared his intention to conduct negotiations at an intensive pace and again raised the issue of protecting the Ukrainian sky, including the supply of missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
Washington's position and the issue of territorial concessions
A separate layer of the discussion concerns the position of the American side. Previously, The New York Times reported that Donald Trump's administration is trying to persuade Ukraine to conclude a peace agreement with Russia, which, according to their data, might involve territorial concessions in the Donbas in exchange for potential economic benefits for Kyiv. These reports set the stage against which the Ukrainian side emphasizes the need for reliable and "working" security guarantees after the end of hostilities.
Information security of the diplomatic track
Against the backdrop of active contacts, Umerov also reported on attempts by unidentified persons to obtain information about Ukraine's new diplomatic initiatives and negotiations with international partners on ending the war. This points to increased attention to leaks within a sensitive diplomatic process and the need to protect the parties' negotiating positions at every stage of developing security guarantees.
