Billionaire SpaceX owner Elon Musk has been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the past two years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Musk and Putin have held phone conversations, an anonymous source confirmed to The Associated Press.
The relationship between Musk and Putin raises questions about national security, especially due to the multi-million dollar contracts SpaceX has with the U.S. government. Trump has even expressed interest in appointing Musk to his administration if elected next month.
Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, notes that it is unusual for businesspeople to interact with foreign leaders without informing U.S. authorities. McFaul emphasizes the importance of these contacts given the situation in Ukraine.
Initially, Musk supported Kyiv and provided his Starlink system for communications after the Russian invasion in 2022. However, Musk later refused to allow Ukraine to use Starlink in 2023 for a surprise attack on Crimea. He proposed a peace plan that would have involved significant concessions from Ukraine to Russia.
The fact that Musk is in contact with Putin raises concerns about Russian influence in U.S. politics, especially considering the work SpaceX does for the U.S. government and Musk's prominent role on the American right.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk and Putin have discussed personal, business, and geopolitical issues on several occasions. It is reported that Putin asked Musk not to activate Starlink over Taiwan as a favor to Xi Jinping, which caused unease in Ukraine. However, Russia has denied the occurrence of these conversations.
The frequency, timing, and content of the calls between Musk and Putin have not been disclosed. Musk, the richest man in the world and owner of Tesla and X, continues to generate interest in international politics by maintaining contact with leaders like Putin and being a significant figure on the American right.
