Musk denies Putin talk
Musk denies he talked to Putin about Ukraine, or on any topic outside of space
No, it is not. I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space.
When asked if he would have a talk with Putin about the Ukraine conflict, he says:
Pointless, as there is currently no overlap between Russian and Ukrainian demands – it’s not even close
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
Report: Musk talked to Putin before Ukraine peace plan tweet
In a mailout to subscribers, Ian Bremner, founder the political risk research and consulting firm Eurasia Group, wrote that Musk told him that Putin was “prepared to negotiate”. but only if Crimea remained Russian; if Ukraine accepted a form of permanent neutrality; and Ukraine recognised Russia’s annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
According to Bremmer, Musk said Putin told him these goals would be accomplished “no matter what”, including the potential of a nuclear strike if Ukraine invaded Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Bremmer wrote that Musk told him that “everything needed to be done to avoid that outcome.”
Bremmer also wrote that Musk said he had refused a Ukrainian request to activate Starlink in Crimea.