DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s crown prince wasn’t in the room for the first high-level talks between Russia and the United States over Moscow’s war on Ukraine on Tuesday, but Mohammed bin Salman still won the day for hosting the gathering that could be a game-changer in the bloody conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Monday. The meeting came a day before US and Russian officials are due to hold talks in Saudi Arabia on ending the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelensky, Russian President Putin, and US President Trump are set to meet in Saudi Arabia for important talks.