Media: Tesla CEO maintains regular contact with Russian president

American tech billionaire, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has maintained regular communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022.

Their conversations encompass personal topics, business interests, and geopolitical issues. These discussions have reportedly been corroborated by several current and former officials from the US, Europe, and Russia, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The report, referencing two individuals familiar with the situation, indicated that at one point, Putin asked Musk to refrain from activating his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This year, Musk has emerged as a prominent supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s election campaign and could potentially play a significant role in a future Trump administration if he is reelected. 

While the US and its allies have sought to isolate Putin in recent years, Musk’s ongoing communication with the Russian leader may suggest a potential re-engagement, which aligns with Trump’s expressed interest in negotiating solutions to critical issues like the Ukraine war, according to the report. The Journal noted that these contacts are raising national security concerns among some members of the Biden administration, given Putin's status as a key US adversary. 

Additionally, Musk has forged strong business relationships with US military and intelligence agencies, providing him with insight into some of the nation’s most sensitive space programs. Musk’s connections with the Kremlin appear to be a closely guarded secret within the government, with several White House officials stating they were unaware of these interactions.

By Naila Huseynova