Tech billionaire and vocal Trump supporter Elon Musk has talked regularly with Russian President Vladimir Putin for at least two years, according to a new report.
Several current and former officials for the U.S., Europe and Russia told The Wall Street Journal Musk has discussed personal topics, business and geopolitical issues, with Putin at one point asking Musk to avoid activating his Starlink satellites and providing internet service over Taiwan.
The report revealed that in 2022, the world's richest man was under public and private pressure from the Kremlin.
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"In May 2022, Russia’s space chief said in a post on Telegram that Musk would 'answer like an adult' for supplying Starlink to Ukraine’s Azov battalion, which the Kremlin had singled out for the ultraright ideology espoused by some members," the Journal reported.
The article continued: "Later in 2022, Musk was having regular conversations with 'high-level Russians,' according to a person familiar with the interactions. At the time, there was pressure from the Kremlin on Musk’s businesses and 'implicit threats against him,' the person said."
That same year, Musk began pushing more Russian-aligned stances, including that SpaceX was losing money by funding terminals in Ukraine, as well as asking his followers on his app, X, to support peace plans that "mirrored some aspects of the Kremlin's offer to Ukraine," the Journal reported. Additionally, Musk has become more critical of American military aid to Ukraine.
The report comes after the Justice Department reportedly sent Musk a warning letter after he began a lottery for voters in swing states.
