Elon Musk admits speaking with Putin to Pentagon officials
Elon Musk (Photo: Getty Images)
This year, American billionaire Elon Musk reportedly admitted to Pentagon officials that he had a conversation with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. This was revealed by former US Deputy Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl, according to The New Yorker.
It is noted that Musk voluntarily provided this information during an October conversation with then-US Deputy Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl. They were discussing the issue that Ukrainian military began losing communication with Starlink in the liberated territories, which Russia considers as its own.
"My inference was that he was getting nervous that Starlink’s involvement was increasingly seen in Russia as enabling the Ukrainian war effort, and was looking for a way to placate Russian concerns" Kahl added.
Hence, he sought a way to reassure the Russians. To the disappointment of Pentagon officials, Musk stated that he had personally talked to Putin.
Starlink in Ukraine
In October 2022, SpaceX requested the Pentagon to fund the governmental and military use of the Starlink satellite system by Ukraine. According to SpaceX estimates, the costs would exceed $120 million.
Previously, SpaceX founder Elon Musk stated that Russia could "kill" the single Starlink communication system operating on the Ukrainian front.
Musk also mentioned that Russia had the capability to completely destroy the US and Europe with nuclear missiles in less than 30 minutes.
At that time, the administration of President Joe Biden discussed whether the US should subject some of Elon Musk's enterprises to national security scrutiny, including the agreement with Twitter and the Starlink satellite network of SpaceX.
