What are the challenges to achieving peace talks between Russia and the United States regarding Ukraine?

According to Dr. Sergei Markov, a key challenge is the exclusion of important parties like Ukrainian President Zelensky from negotiations, which undermines the entire peace process. He suggests that true diplomacy requires inclusivity rather than sidelining key stakeholders. Dr. Markov also highlights a disconnect between European leadership and public opinion, claiming that while Russian and American leaders represent their citizens' views, European leaders are out of touch with their populations' desire for peace. This misalignment creates additional obstacles to meaningful diplomatic progress in resolving the Ukraine conflict.