Elon Musk’s secret talks with Russia. The Wall Street Journal presents a report

The information comes from a report published by the website, which cites American, European and Russian sources. The talks were to cover personal and business matters, as well as current geopolitical tensions.

According to WSJ, these contacts included, among others: Sergei Kiriyenko, deputy head of the administration of the President of Russia, who, in the opinion of the US authorities, is involved in Russian disinformation operations, including on the X platform, which is owned by Musk.

Wall Street Journal: Musk secretly contacts Putin

According to WSJ, Musk’s talks with Putin raise concerns in the Pentagon and intelligence services. Musk, as the owner of SpaceX, cooperates with the US government, which means he has access to top secret information.

On the other hand, the Pentagon did not raise any official concerns about a breach of security rules, which may suggest that the talks were informal and private. However, WSJ emphasizes that the contacts coincided with the intensification of Russia’s military activities and a change in Musk’s position towards Ukraine.

Musk, Starlink and the controversy around Taiwan

Among the important threads appearing in the WSJ publication is the issue of the Starlink system, owned by SpaceX. At the end of 2023, Musk allegedly received a request from Putin not to activate Starlink over Taiwan, which was supposed to be a nod to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This request was in line with the interests of China, which does not recognize Taiwan’s independence. Musk did not launch Starlink over Taiwan, although the system’s official website announces the service will be available in the future. This decision was criticized by international observers, who suggested that it may mean subordinating Musk’s business to Chinese policy.

Pressure and threats against Musk

The WSJ reveals that Musk was subjected to both public and private pressure from Russian authorities. The former head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, allegedly publicly threatened Musk, while on a private level Musk allegedly experienced suggestions and pressure which, according to WSJ sources, took the form of veiled threats.

Musk’s public statements about the Ukraine peace plan, which appeared in October 2022, largely aligned with the Russian narrative. Musk’s plan included, among others: recognition of the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the neutrality of Ukraine, which was in line with the conditions set by the Kremlin. Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group think-tank, revealed that Musk personally informed him about the conversations with Putin that took place just before his controversial statements.

Political reactions and consequences

Reactions to the WSJ reports vary. Musk’s supporters argue that his contacts with Russia can be used to reach diplomatic solutions, while critics fear that it may weaken Western unity and create scope for information manipulation. American politicians are also expressing concern, especially since Musk remains a key figure in the US space and technology industries.

A spokeswoman for Donald Trump’s campaign, in response to WSJ questions, emphasized that during Trump’s term, Putin did not take military action against other countries, which was intended to suggest that Trump and his allies, including Musk, could maintain peace.

Controversy surrounding Musk’s policy regarding Ukraine

Changes in Musk’s attitude towards Ukraine are analyzed by the media and experts. As WSJ notes, Musk has repeatedly emphasized that he prefers Ukraine to remain neutral, which some analysts believe is in line with the Kremlin’s interests.

Musk himself claims that his main motivation is to prevent the escalation of the war and protect Starlink’s infrastructure from destruction. At the same time, there were reports that the Starlink system was used by Russian forces, which may indicate SpaceX’s unclear position in the conflict.