The United States on Monday welcomed China's participation in Saudi-led talks on the war in Ukraine, with Washington hoping to show Russia as isolated.

"We did believe it was productive that China attended," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"We have long said that it would be productive for China to play a role in ending the war in Ukraine if it was willing to play a role that respected Ukraine's territorial integrity and Ukraine's sovereignty," he said.

The talks Saturday in the Saudi port city of Jeddah included some 40 countries, among them emerging powers such as India and Brazil that have been uneasy about Western efforts to punish Russia.

But Saudi Arabia, flexing its diplomatic muscle, also drew in top officials from the United States as well as Ukraine itself, which sought to rally support. Russia was not invited.

President Joe Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland also met separately in Jeddah with the Chinese envoy, Li Hui.

China has been Russia's key international ally but has also stepped up diplomacy with Ukraine and has stopped short of full-fledged military support for Moscow.

Miller highlighted Russia's criticism of the Jeddah talks.

"We believe it's helpful for countries to attend and hear directly from Ukraine. I would note that Russia apparently objects to that," he said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine on Monday said it was "satisfied" with a summit held in Saudi Arabia over the weekend on a peace settlement to end fighting, to which Moscow was not invited.

Representatives from around 40 countries including China, India, the United States and Ukraine took part in the peace summit, which was held in Jeddah.

"We are very satisfied with the results of the summit," the head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said.

"The meeting in Saudi Arabia is a rehearsal for a world in which there is no place for savage aggression (by Russia)."

He said there was an agreement on the next meeting, "but there are no exact dates" and said that "even more countries will participate".

He said a Chinese representative was "present at all events."

"There is no reason to doubt that the principle 'Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine' is being disrupted," he added.

Russia earlier said that a peace settlement was only possible if Kyiv put down its arms.

Russia, which was not invited to the summit, said that a resolution was possible if Ukraine "stopped the hostilities and terrorist attacks" and if Western countries stopped arms supplies to Kyiv.

It also called on Ukraine to cede its occupied territories to Moscow.

"The original foundations of Ukraine's sovereignty -- its neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status -- must be confirmed," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

Over a year into Moscow's campaign in Ukraine, Kyiv's forces were pressing ahead with their long-awaited offensive to retake occupied territory.