Why were Ukrainians concerned about the US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia?

Ukrainians were concerned because their representatives, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, were completely excluded from the diplomatic discussions about their own country's future. As the news anchor reported, "Noticeably missing from all of this was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In fact, no Ukrainian official were present for these talks at all." This absence raises significant questions about the legitimacy of any potential agreements reached during these high-level talks between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The exclusion of Ukrainian officials from negotiations directly affecting their nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity creates understandable anxiety about decisions being made without their input or consent.