Elon Musk denies speaking with Vladimir Putin before proposing pro-Russia Ukraine peace deal
11 October 2022
Elon Musk is said to have spoken directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin prior to tweeting his suggestion to end the war in Ukraine, Vice News reports.
Per the news outlet: "In a mailout sent to Eurasia Group subscribers, Ian Bremmer wrote that Tesla CEO 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 recognized Russia’s annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia."
The report went on to offer a recount of Musk and Putin's conversation. Bremmer notes that "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 also claims "Musk told him that 'everything needed to be done to avoid that outcome.'”
The latest report comes just days after Musk took to Twitter with a flurry of suggestions regarding a possible peace deal between the two countries.
"Ukraine-Russia Peace," Musk tweeted, adding his list of options. "Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is will of the people. - Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev’s mistake). - Water supply to Crimea assured. - Ukraine remains neutral."
Despite the latest reports, Musk is saying otherwise. The billionaire businessman denies the claims. In response to the report, he tweeted, "No, it is not" [true]. "I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space."
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Musk also added another tweet stating that the last time he'd spoken to the Russian president was "via videoconference last year."