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- Elon Musk is in ‘regular contact’ with Putin, new report alleges (newsbreak.com)
Tech Billionaire Musk’s Alleged Contact with Putin
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has reportedly been in regular communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2022. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, officials from the US, Europe, and Russia have confirmed these discussions.
Putin allegedly asked Musk to avoid activating Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping. It’s unclear if Musk agreed to this request.
Musk’s alleged dialogue with Putin has raised concerns about his potential influence on US-Russia relations. Some experts believe it could signal a re-engagement with Putin, as former President Donald Trump has expressed interest in negotiating with Russia.
Musk has a top-secret security clearance, which gives him access to classified information. However, a person familiar with the conversations between Musk and Putin claims that no security breaches have been reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denies that Musk and Putin are in regular contact, but Putin has praised Musk’s intelligence and suggested that he will pursue his own agenda.
The Wall Street Journal report also alleges that Musk has faced pressure from the Kremlin, including implicit threats against his businesses. Musk’s public support for Ukraine and provision of Starlink internet services to Ukrainians have been cited as potential reasons for this pressure.
Despite denying any explicit threats from Putin, Musk has expressed concerns about Russian cyber capabilities and the potential disruption of his satellites.
The Pentagon has acknowledged the reports but cannot confirm their accuracy. They emphasize that individuals with security clearances must follow procedures for reporting foreign contacts.
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- Elon Musk is in ‘regular contact’ with Putin, new report alleges (newsbreak.com)