WSJ reports Musk and Putin have held secret talks for two years, Ukraine reacts
Photo: Elon Musk (Getty Images)
The American billionaire Elon Musk is holding secret talks with the Russian president Vladimir Putin. They have maintained regular contact since the end of 2022, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Several current and former officials from the US, Europe, and Russia confirmed to the media that the topics of Musk-Putin conversations cover geopolitics, business, and personal matters.
According to WSJ sources, Putin asked Musk not to activate Starlink internet over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The media notes that Musk has become an active supporter of Donald Trump's campaign this year. If Trump were to win the election, he could potentially find a place for Musk in his administration. While the US and its allies have tried to isolate Putin, Musk’s dialogue with him may signal an interest in renewed engagement with the Russian leader and Trump's willingness to strike a deal, including on Ukraine.
Musk’s contacts with Putin have raised concerns within Joe Biden’s administration, especially since the billionaire has developed "deep business ties with US military and intelligence agencies." He may have access to certain sensitive space programs.
Musk has long admired Russia and its space and missile programs. He traveled to Moscow to purchase missiles, although the deal fell through.
According to the journalists, Musk’s talks with Putin also indicate that the American entrepreneur wants to "stretch into geopolitics." Musk has already met several times and discussed political issues with Argentine President Javier Milei and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Sources reveal that Musk communicates not only with the Russian leader but also with top Russian officials. One of his contacts is Sergei Kiriyenko, who is considered the curator of the occupied regions of Ukraine.
The article also says that the restriction on Starlink’s use for the Ukrainian military coincided with "public and private pressure from the Kremlin" on Musk.
Ukraine’s reaction
Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, responded to the WSJ article.
"It’s bad that Musk is talking with Putin and turning a blind eye to Russia’s use of smuggled Starlink," he said on Telegram.
According to Kovalenko, it is concerning that Musk communicates with Kiriyenko, who is responsible for anti-Ukrainian propaganda, including in the West, as X (Twitter), apart from TV, is a key tool of Russian propaganda in the West and the Middle East.
Musk promotes Trump
Musk openly supports the Republican Donald Trump in the US presidential election. He has attended several of his campaign rallies.
According to Western media, Musk has donated billions of dollars to Trump’s campaign. He pledged to give $1 million daily to a random person supporting his petition for freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. However, experts believe that it looks like bribing voters.
