Elon Musk's secret ties with Putin: Geopolitical intrigue unveiled
The American newspaper "Wall Street Journal," citing American, European, and Russian sources, reports that billionaire Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin officials since 2022. The Kremlin allegedly warned the owner of SpaceX and asked him not to activate the Starlink network over Taiwan.
8:46 AM EDT, October 25, 2024
According to information from the "WSJ," Musk's secret talks with Putin covered "personal, business, and geopolitical tensions." In addition to conversations with Putin, Musk is said to have held "regular" discussions with "high-level Russians," including the deputy head of the presidential administration of Russia, Sergey Kiriyenko. These contacts were supposed to last from the second half of 2022 to 2024.
The newspaper notes that Kiriyenko is accused by U.S. authorities of directing Kremlin disinformation campaigns, including on the X platform run by Musk.
The "WSJ" also writes that the intensification of the billionaire’s contacts with Russia coincided with a change in his stance on supporting Ukraine and his repetition of Russian propaganda narratives, including "his peace plan" to cede Crimea to Russia and ensure Ukraine's neutrality.
Were there threats?
Concerns arose about reports of Russian forces using the Starlink system and the broadcast on the X platform of an interview by right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson with Putin. According to one newspaper source, Musk faced public and private pressure, including veiled threats. Publicly, he was threatened by the then-head of Roskosmos, Dmitry Rogozin.
Furthermore, the newspaper reports, citing a former Russian intelligence officer, that at the end of last year, Putin requested that Musk not activate the satellite internet network Starlink over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The company did not obtain permission to operate in Taiwan, although the Starlink website mentions that the system will be available there "soon."
Musk, Putin, and Trump
The billionaire's contacts with Russians were said to continue while he was preparing to buy Twitter and engage in Donald Trump’s election campaign. Trump promises a quick end to the war in Ukraine and was also said to have held secret talks with Putin.
In response to the newspaper's questions, Trump's campaign spokeswoman praised Musk. "As for Putin, there's only one candidate in the race that he did not invade another country under, and it's President Trump," she emphasized.
Elon Musk has not yet commented on the revelations published by the "WSJ."
