Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, describing him as a “real genius” while revealing that Moscow maintains close contact with the American businessman over satellite technology.
Putin made the remarks on Wednesday during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, where he discussed Russia’s ambitious satellite internet project, Rassvet, which is being developed to provide internet connectivity through a network of satellites.
“He’s a genius, a real genius,” Putin said of Musk, according to a translation of his remarks.
“We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr. Musk,” the Russian leader added.
Putin explained that communication with Musk was important to ensure that Russia’s Rassvet satellite network and SpaceX’s Starlink system operate without interfering with each other while orbiting the Earth.
“We and our American partners value this mutually, and despite all the political questions, we are working hard,” he said.
Starlink, operated by Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, has deployed approximately 13,000 satellites, according to the company. In contrast, online satellite-tracking platforms indicate that only a few dozen Rassvet satellites are currently in orbit.
The Russian Embassy in South Africa has described Rassvet as Russia’s alternative to Starlink, presenting the project as an important step towards developing the country’s independent satellite internet infrastructure.
“Russia maintains close contacts with the US on space, including with Elon Musk,” the embassy said in a statement.
Putin’s comments come amid developments pointing to renewed engagement between Moscow and Washington, nearly five years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has heavily relied on Starlink’s satellite internet service to maintain communications during the ongoing conflict. However, Ukrainian forces reportedly experienced connectivity disruptions last week, which Musk acknowledged were caused by deliberate action taken by SpaceX.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he had reached an understanding with Russia regarding diesel imports as part of efforts to bring down fuel prices, which had surged amid the US conflict with Iran. Trump also waived certain sanctions against Russia that were scheduled to take effect.
In another development, an American citizen was released from Russian custody shortly afterwards, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff describing Putin as a “humanitarian”.
Musk, who was born in South Africa before moving to Canada and eventually settling in the United States, is the founder and head of several major American business ventures, including electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and aerospace company SpaceX, which operates the Starlink satellite internet network.
Beyond his business interests, Musk has also emerged as an influential figure in American politics, serving as a prominent political ally and financial supporter of Trump and other Republican politicians.
Putin’s public praise of Musk and his disclosure of direct communication between Russia and the SpaceX founder highlight the continuing importance of cooperation in space technology, even as political tensions between Washington and Moscow remain significant.
