How was Ukraine excluded from peace talks about its own conflict?

Ukraine has been notably excluded from critical peace negotiations about its own conflict. The first round of talks solely involved Russia and the United States in Saudi Arabia, without Ukrainian participation, despite the conflict directly affecting Ukraine's sovereignty. President Zelensky expressed confusion over this exclusion, emphasizing that any resolution cannot occur without Ukrainian input. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is increasingly aligning with positions that sideline Ukraine in the negotiation process, criticizing Zelensky's leadership while the US conducts discussions that directly impact Ukraine's future.