What was significant about the recent high-level meetings between US and Russian officials regarding the Ukraine conflict?

The meetings represented the first high-level US-Russia discussions about the Ukraine conflict in many years, marking a historic diplomatic event. US officials justified Ukraine's absence by describing this as the beginning of a process where Ukraine would eventually be included. The significance was underscored by contrasting messaging: while US officials emphasized the importance of establishing dialogue, former President Trump made contradictory statements blaming Ukraine for the war. These talks occurred amid tensions about Ukraine's exclusion from negotiations concerning its own future, highlighting the complex diplomatic dynamics at play.