Elon Musk
U.S. billionaire Elon Musk reportedly engaged in secret discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout the ongoing war in Ukraine, as his earlier support for Kyiv appeared to wane in favor of Moscow.
This information was disclosed in a Thursday report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which cited multiple anonymous sources, including current and former officials from the U.S., Europe, and Russia.
According to the report, these private conversations spanned from October 2022—when Musk proposed a controversial peace deal—to “into this year.” The discussions allegedly covered a range of topics, including personal matters, business interests, and geopolitical tensions.
Notably, the timing of these talks coincided with Musk’s increasing criticism of U.S. military aid to Ukraine and his endorsement of former President Donald Trump’s latest campaign for office.
The WSJ emphasized that Musk’s interactions with Putin occurred against the backdrop of Trump’s calls for negotiations regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The report also revealed that Musk had been in regular contact with “high-level Russians,” which included conversations with Sergei Kiriyenko, Putin’s first deputy chief of staff.
These discussions reportedly took place amid mounting pressure from the Kremlin on Musk’s business ventures, accompanied by what some sources described as “implicit threats” directed at him.
One intelligence source stated, “They [the U.S. government] don’t love it,” referring to the contacts between Musk and Putin. However, this source also noted that the Biden administration had not yet indicated any concerns regarding potential security breaches related to these communications.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the WSJ’s claims, asserting that Musk and Putin had only engaged in a single phone conversation. Peskov characterized their discussion as focused on “space as well as current and future technologies.”
The billionaire himself did not reply to the WSJ’s request for comments regarding these allegations. In a previous statement from October 2022, Musk mentioned that he had talked about space with Putin during a conversation in April 2021.
Additionally, the report highlighted an intriguing detail: during their discussions, Putin allegedly requested that Musk refrain from activating his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan, making the request as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. It’s noteworthy that Starlink does not currently offer services to Taiwan.
In a subsequent statement on Friday, the Kremlin dismissed the claims made in the WSJ report, declaring them to be “all untrue.”
Peskov reiterated that the only interaction Musk had with Putin occurred before 2022, further emphasizing that their conversation revolved around visionary technologies and future technological solutions.
I am a dynamic professional, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies, Conflict Management and Resolution, and International Relations. My expertise is particularly focused on South Asian Conflicts and the intricacies of the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific Politics. With my skills as a Content Writer, I serve as a bridge between academia and the public, translating complex global issues into accessible narratives. My passion for fostering understanding and cooperation on the national and international stage drives me to make meaningful contributions to peace and global discourse.
