European leaders and Ukrainians are urging the United States to offer concrete security guarantees before considering any negotiations over Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, according to the French presidency. The call for assurances comes as officials prepare for a key meeting in Berlin involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European heads of state, and leaders from the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The French presidency emphasized the need for clear commitments from both European and American sides to ensure Ukraine's security prior to any discussions on territorial settlements.