Putin has showered Elon Musk with praise after it was alleged that Musk had denied Ukraine’s use of his Starlink satellite network, preventing the country from performing a surprise military attack on Russia.
Putin’s High Praise for Musk
Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk, hailing him as an “outstanding person” and a remarkable businessman. But what did Musk do to “deserve” such high praise?
The Russian leader’s commendation comes on the heels of Elon Musk’s alleged decision to deny Ukraine the use of Starlink internet for a potential surprise attack on Russian forces in Crimea.
Elon Musk’s refusal to support Ukraine stemmed from his unwillingness to be complicit in what he deemed a “major” act of war—a stance that didn’t sit well with Ukraine’s leadership.
During an economic forum in Vladivostok, Putin remained tight-lipped about the Starlink incident but instead chose to praise Musk’s SpaceX for its rocket launching successes.
They Only Talked Stars
Putin acknowledged Musk’s status as an exceptional figure, saying that his talent and success are widely recognized worldwide.
The Russian leader described Elon Musk as an active and talented businessman who has achieved significant milestones, often with the support of the American state.
Last October, Elon Musk denied reports suggesting that he had spoken to Putin about Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine.
Ian Bremmer, the head of the Eurasia Group political risk consultancy, had alleged that Musk personally discussed matters with Putin, a claim Musk refuted.
Musk clarified that he had spoken to Putin only once, around 18 months ago, and the discussion had centered on space-related topics.
Bowing Down to a War Crime?
In the same month, Elon Musk turned to social media to involve his followers in voting on potential solutions to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, but his suggestions were controversial.
Musk’s suggestions included holding votes in Russian-annexed areas of Ukraine—a proposal that found favor with the Kremlin, potentially due to his links with election fraud.
Another unconventional idea from Musk was the formal recognition of Crimea as part of Russia. This region had been illegally occupied by Moscow in 2014, essentially bowing down to a war crime.
In response to Musk’s actions, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky initiated his own poll, seeking public opinion on whether Musk’s support for Ukraine made him more likable as the world’s richest person.
The World’s Most Influential Entrepreneur
The unfolding dynamics between Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine’s leadership have taken a series of unexpected twists and turns.
For the first time, social media platforms have played a significant role in shaping public opinion on sensitive geopolitical matters.
The world watches as these powerful figures show their strained relationships online while the two countries are at war.
With the situation evolving, stay tuned for further developments involving one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs and political leaders.
The post Compliments and Stargazing… Putin and Musk – Friends or Foes? first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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