Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace efforts and initiatives are increasing the chances of reaching a settlement to the conflict in Ukraine.

In a post on X, Dmitriev said Trump’s approach is giving peace efforts a strong boost. His remarks followed statements by the U.S. president criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he accused of missing previous opportunities to reach an agreement with Russia.

Trump had called on Zelenskyy to hold presidential elections in Ukraine, while Zelenskyy has ruled out holding elections under the current circumstances, citing the millions of Ukrainians living abroad. Zelenskyy’s presidential term officially ended on May 20, 2024.