Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Elon Musk a "real genius" and said the two are in "close" contact about satellite technology, speaking at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on Wednesday. The remarks come as Washington and Moscow grow closer, nearly five years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described Elon Musk as a "real genius" on Wednesday and said Russia is in "close" contact with the SpaceX founder about satellite technology. Speaking at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Putin discussed Russia's own satellite internet project, Rassvet, and said contact with Musk was important so Rassvet and Starlink satellites do not "interfere with each other in orbit."
"He's a genius, a real genius," Putin said of Musk, according to a translation of his remarks by the BBC. "We are in close contact with our American partners, including Mr. Musk." He added: "We and our American partners value this mutually, and despite all the political questions, we are working hard."
Starlink has launched roughly 13,000 of its satellites, according to the company, while only a couple of dozen Rassvet satellites are currently in orbit, according to online satellite trackers. The Russian Embassy in South Africa called Rassvet "Russia's Starlink alternative" and said it "marks only the country's first steps in this field." The embassy added that "Russia maintains close contacts with the US on space, including with Elon Musk."
The exchange comes as the US and Russia appear to be growing closer. Ukraine has relied on Starlink internet in its efforts to keep Russia's forces at bay, but its military last week suddenly suffered Starlink connectivity problems, something Musk has admitted SpaceX did intentionally.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said he had struck a deal with Russia to import diesel in an effort to lower gas prices that have skyrocketed due to the US war with Iran. Trump then waived certain sanctions against Russia that were set to take effect. Not long after, a US citizen was released from Russian custody, with US envoy Steve Witkoff referring to Putin as a "humanitarian."
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment, the BBC reported.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Putin's praise and "close contact" with Musk signal deepening US-Russia engagement on space even as the Ukraine war approaches its fifth year.
- Starlink has been critical to Ukraine's military communications, and Musk's admission that SpaceX intentionally caused recent connectivity problems raises questions about the reliability of that access.
- Russia's Rassvet project is a small constellation for now, but Moscow's stated aim of avoiding orbital interference with Starlink points to growing coordination and competition in satellite internet.
Background
Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet constellation, which has launched roughly 13,000 satellites, according to the company. Russia's Rassvet is its own satellite internet project, with only a couple of dozen satellites in orbit so far, according to online trackers. Putin said contact with Musk was important so the two systems do not "interfere with each other in orbit." The exchange comes amid a broader thaw in US-Russia relations, including a diesel import deal announced by Trump and a waiver of certain sanctions.
Key Perspectives
Vladimir Putin: Says Musk is a "genius, a real genius" and that Russia is in "close contact" with its "American partners, including Mr. Musk," working hard "despite all the political questions" so the two satellite systems do not interfere in orbit.
Russian Embassy in South Africa: Calls Rassvet "Russia's Starlink alternative" and "only the country's first steps in this field," and says Russia maintains close contacts with the US on space, including with Musk.
What to Watch
- Whether the recent Starlink connectivity problems for Ukraine's military are resolved or become a point of contention in US-Russia talks.
- Any expansion of Rassvet beyond its current small constellation, which would test Putin's commitment to avoiding orbital interference.
- Further steps in US-Russia rapprochement, following the diesel deal, the sanctions waiver and the prisoner release.
Checked
10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedPutin called Elon Musk a “real genius.”BBC News: ““He's a genius, a real genius,” Putin said of Musk, according to a translation of his remarks by the BBC.”
- Partly supportedThe US and Russia are deepening satellite ties.BBC News: “Putin's comments about Rassvet and Starlink were made as the US and Russia appear to be growing closer”
- SupportedPutin said Russia is in close contact with Musk about satellite technology.BBC News: “Elon Musk is a “real genius”, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday after revealing the two are in “close” contact about satellite technology.”
- SupportedPutin said contact was important so Rassvet and Starlink satellites would not interfere with each other in orbit.BBC News: “Putin added that it was important for Russia to be in contact with Musk so Rassvet and Starlink satellites do not “interfere with each other in orbit”.”
- SupportedPutin made the remarks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on Wednesday.BBC News: “The remarks came during the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, during which Putin discussed Russia's own satellite internet project Rassvet”
- SupportedStarlink has launched roughly 13,000 satellites, while only a couple of dozen Rassvet satellites are in orbit.BBC News: “Starlink has launched roughly 13,000 of its satellites, according to the company. By contrast there are only a couple of dozen Rassvet satellites currently in orbit, according to online satellite trackers.”
- SupportedThe Russian Embassy in South Africa called Rassvet “Russia's Starlink alternative” and said it marks the country's first steps in the field.BBC News: “The Russian Embassy in South Africa said on Wednesday Rassvet is “Russia's Starlink alternative” and “marks only the country's first steps in this field”.”
- SupportedThe US and Russia appear to be growing closer as the invasion of Ukraine approaches its fifth year.BBC News: “Putin's comments about Rassvet and Starlink were made as the US and Russia appear to be growing closer, even as it approaches five years since Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”
- SupportedMusk admitted that SpaceX intentionally caused Ukraine's military to suffer Starlink connectivity problems last week.BBC News: “But its military last week suddenly suffered Starlink connectivity problems, something Musk has admitted SpaceX did intentionally.”
- SupportedSpaceX did not respond to a request for comment, according to the BBC.BBC News: “The company did not respond to a request for comment.”