Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended his gratitude to Saudi Arabia's leadership for hosting recent high-level discussions between Russian and U.S. officials in Riyadh.

Speaking to reporters, Putin thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for facilitating the meeting and fostering a conducive atmosphere for dialogue.

The talks, held in the Saudi capital, focused on addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and exploring avenues to enhance trust between Moscow and Washington.

Putin emphasized the importance of building trust with the United States as a crucial step toward resolving the crisis.

He also noted that while Ukraine was not present at the Riyadh discussions, its involvement in future negotiations remains essential.

The Russian President dismissed concerns about excluding Ukraine from the peace process, stating that no party is being excluded from efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution.

The Riyadh meeting marked a significant diplomatic engagement, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the American delegation.

The discussions are part of ongoing international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the nearly three-year-long conflict in Ukraine.