Why did senior members of the Trump administration meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia?

Senior members of the Trump administration met face-to-face with top Russian officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine. The talks followed President Trump's recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting Trump's direct diplomatic engagement with Russia on the Ukraine conflict. Notably absent from these peace discussions were representatives from Ukraine and European countries, raising concerns about their exclusion from negotiations that directly impact Ukraine's future. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed questions about this absence, suggesting the Trump administration was taking a unique approach to diplomatic resolution of the conflict.