Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday appointed deputy foreign minister Anatoly Antonov as the country’s new ambassador to the United States, replacing Sergei Kislyak. “By presidential decree, Anatoly Ivanovich Antonov is appointed Russian Ambassador to the United States,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

Relations between Moscow and Washington have fallen to a post-Cold War low, driven by accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential elections. Kislyak has been at the eye of the storm over his meetings with senior campaign aides to Donald Trump during the presidential race.

Antonov, 62, has served as a deputy foreign minister since December. Previously he served as a deputy defense minister. He has a reputation as a hard-liner and is seen as a tough negotiator, including over weapons control issues with the US.