Elon Musk, the prominent figure behind Tesla and SpaceX, has reportedly engaged in ongoing conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2022, covering a diverse array of subjects ranging from personal matters to global geopolitical tensions. The content of these discussions, as revealed by sources familiar with the matter, includes requests from Putin to Musk, such as refraining from enabling the Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping amidst escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
While the reported interactions between Musk and Putin have sparked curiosity and scrutiny, White House officials claim to have been unaware of the extent of these communications. Musk, for his part, has adamantly refuted any suggestions that he is supportive of Russia or Putin, highlighting his companies' contributions in aiding Ukraine and denying allegations of selling Starlink terminals to Russia. Despite these denials, sources point to the complexities of the U.S. government's relationship with Musk, given the crucial role SpaceX plays in national security satellite launches and NASA missions to the International Space Station.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the significance of Musk's connections with Putin, stating that their communications have primarily revolved around discussions on space and related technologies. The Wall Street Journal report sheds light on Musk's expanding involvement in geopolitical affairs, portraying him as a key player whose dialogues with Putin and Kremlin officials exemplify his rising influence in the realm of international politics, blurring the boundaries between business prowess and diplomatic endeavors.