Why was Ukraine not present at the recent peace talks regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Ukraine was notably absent from the recent peace talks because they weren't invited to participate. President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed surprise at his country's exclusion from these discussions about the ongoing war. This omission is particularly significant as Zelensky emphasized that any decision about ending the conflict cannot be made without Ukraine's involvement. The absence raises concerns about the legitimacy and effectiveness of peace negotiations that exclude one of the primary parties in the conflict.