Space and electric car guru Elon Musk denied reports that he recently talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin before unveiling his peace plan to end the war in Ukraine.
In a mailout to subscribers, Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer reported that Musk told him Putin was “prepared to negotiate” so long as Crimea remained within Russia’s grip, according to Vice News. Musk insisted that he hasn’t talked to Putin in nearly 18 months, which would precede the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.
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“No, it is not. I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space,” Musk tweeted in response to a question about the report.
No, it is not. I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 11, 2022
Bremmer later appeared to rebuff Musk’s denial, reiterating that Musk told him that he spoke with Putin, though refraining from laying out a specific timeline.
“Elon Musk told me he had spoken with Putin and the Kremlin directly about Ukraine. He also told me what the Kremlin’s red lines were,” Bremmer tweeted. “I have been writing my weekly newsletter on geopolitics for 24 yrs. I write honestly without fear or favor and this week’s update was no different.”
“I’ve long admired musk as a unique and world-changing entrepreneur, which I’ve said publicly. He’s not a geopolitics expert,” he added.
The billionaire tycoon quickly rebuffed Bremmer’s account.
“Nobody should trust Bremmer,” he tweeted.
Nobody should trust Bremmer
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 11, 2022
Musk stoked controversy last week when he proposed a peace plan for the raging war in Ukraine via a Twitter poll.
He suggested that new elections take place in the annexed territory in Ukraine, that Kyiv assures Russia it will stop cutting off the water supply to Crimea, and that Ukraine “remains neutral,” likely a reference to Russian fears of Ukraine joining NATO.
Ukraine-Russia Peace:
– Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is will of the people.
– Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev’s mistake).
– Water supply to Crimea assured.
– Ukraine remains neutral.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022
Critics such as Bremmer slammed Musk’s proposal.
“The only region of Ukraine with a Russian majority is Crimea. That’s it. Everything else is majority Ukrainian. You have way too much influence to get this wrong,” Bremmer said on Twitter.
.@elonmusk, the only region of ukraine with a russian majority is crimea. that’s it. everything else is majority ukrainian.
you have way too much influence to get this wrong. https://t.co/VNyL3Nxlsb
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) October 6, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also swiped at Musk over the idea.
Which @elonmusk do you like more?
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 3, 2022
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) chimed in and blasted the plan as “dumb.” Outgoing Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andrij Melnyk was more direct in his reply: “F*** off is my very diplomatic reply to you.”
Kremlin officials welcomed Musk’s peace machinations.
“It is very positive that somebody like Elon Musk is looking for a peaceful way out of this situation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, per Reuters.
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Over recent months, Musk has become more forthcoming with his political views. In March, for example, he challenged Putin to single combat over Ukraine. Recently, he drew backlash in the United States for suggesting that Taiwan become an administrative zone of some sort to ease relations with China.
SpaceX’s out of pocket cost to enable & support Starlink in Ukraine is ~$80M so far. Our support for Russia is $0. Obviously, we are pro Ukraine.
Trying to retake Crimea will cause massive death, probably fail & risk nuclear war. This would be terrible for Ukraine & Earth.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2022
As a firestorm grew over his Ukrainian peace proposal, Musk defended himself, pointing to his company SpaceX’s support of Ukraine while stressing that he was simply pursuing peace.
“SpaceX’s out of pocket cost to enable & support Starlink in Ukraine is ~$80M so far. Our support for Russia is $0. Obviously, we are pro Ukraine. Trying to retake Crimea will cause massive death, probably fail & risk nuclear war. This would be terrible for Ukraine & Earth,” he tweeted.
