How did the U.S. delegation respond to accusations that they bypassed Ukraine and Europe in negotiations with Russia?

The U.S. delegation stated that while initial talks did not include Ukrainian President Zelensky, the negotiations would eventually involve Ukraine when they get to the substantive details. This explanation, however, was not satisfactory to President Zelensky, who expressed his disapproval by postponing a meeting he was scheduled to attend in Saudi Arabia later that week. The exclusion of Ukraine from these preliminary discussions highlights tensions in the diplomatic approach to resolving the conflict, with the Ukrainian leadership clearly concerned about being sidelined in negotiations that directly impact their country's future.