Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed admiration for the remarkable accomplishments of South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk during a recent economic forum in Russia’s far east. Putin commended Musk as an “exceptional individual” and a prominent figure in the business world, particularly highlighting the significant role of Musk’s SpaceX company in the space transportation industry.
Putin’s public recognition of Musk’s achievements coincided with the entrepreneur’s recent disclosure that he had declined a Ukrainian request last year to activate his Starlink satellite network in Crimea’s port city of Sevastopol. Musk had expressed concerns about potentially becoming involved in a “major” act of war and chose not to participate in such endeavors. This decision, while sharply criticized by Ukrainian politicians, received praise from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who referred to Musk as “the last reasonable mind in North America.”
Although Putin did not directly address the Starlink incident, he was effusive in his praise for SpaceX’s successes in launching rockets into space. He emphasized Musk’s status as an active and highly skilled businessman, acknowledging his substantial achievements, partly attributed to support from the American government.
Furthermore, Putin asserted that Russia remains committed to its own space program, despite a recent setback involving a failed mission to the Moon last month. This affirmation reflects Russia’s determination to continue advancing its space exploration efforts on the global stage.
