Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday invited Elon Musk to visit Ukraine to review the damage done to the country by Russian forces. said he did not believe there was an imminent threat that Russian President Vladimir Putin would use nuclear weapons.
Zelensky’s comments, made via a video link to The New York Times’ Dealbook Summit, were a tacit denunciation of entrepreneur Musk, who last month proposed a Ukrainian peace plan that included a territorial cession to Russia.
“If you want to understand what Russia has done here, come to Ukraine. See this with your own eyes,” Zelensky said. “Then tell me how to end this war, who started it and when it will end.”
SpaceX owned by Mr. Musk Starlink Internet Service In Ukraine, it has become a digital lifeline for soldiers and civilians amid a Russian attack on the country’s energy infrastructure.
In October, Mr. Musk withdrew his threat to withdraw funding for the service in Ukraine. “It’s hell,” he wrote on Twitter. He added that although “Starlink is still losing money” and “other companies receive billions of dollars in taxes”, it will “continue to fund” Ukrainian services.
Musk’s wealth gives him a significant voice in geopolitics, and the Kremlin welcomed his proposal. Zelensky posted the question on Twitter: “Do you prefer Elon Musk pro-Ukraine or Elon Musk pro-Russia?” Musk later tweeted that he supported Ukraine.
When the video link got cut off during an interview with The Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin and then relaunched, Sorkin joked that Musk somehow disconnected the connection.
“I can hear you,” Mr. Zelensky said. “Most importantly, Mr. Musk listens to us.”
Mr Zelensky said the risk of Mr Putin using nuclear weapons should not be his greatest fear, nor the greatest fear of the West.
“I don’t think he will use nuclear weapons,” Zelensky said. “This is my opinion.”
Instead, Western democracies should be most concerned about Putin’s expansionist military ambitions, he said. If his army succeeds in conquering parts of Ukraine, he said other neighboring democracies could be next.
