Putin’s Surprising Remarks About Musk Leave Analysts Astonished

Russian President Vladimir Putin has unexpectedly heaped praise on Elon Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX. Notably, Putin compared Musk to Sergey Korolev, the founding figure of the Soviet Union’s space program and a renowned engineer. These remarks have gained significance as they come amid intense geopolitical tensions and widespread criticism of Musk’s comments on the Ukraine conflict.

During a session with students focused on Russia’s space policy, Vladimir Putin made a special mention of Elon Musk. He acknowledged Musk’s ambitious vision of establishing a colony on Mars. “There is a man in America who has a deep interest in Mars. Such individuals are rare in humanity. They are absorbed by a specific idea. Even if their thoughts seem implausible today, over time they often become reality,” Putin said, referring to Musk, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

Analysts believe it is rare for a Russian head of state to make such positive, even complimentary, remarks about a prominent Western industrialist.

As CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk has revolutionized commercial space competition. His achievements include developing reusable rocket technology, becoming a crucial partner to organizations like NASA, and successfully conducting crewed missions to the International Space Station. His long-standing dream is to establish human settlements on Mars.

However, this is not the first time Putin has praised Musk. In the past, he described Musk as “an extraordinary person.” Yet, the current remarks have attracted greater attention due to the prevailing international circumstances.

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, several of Musk’s comments have been criticized as favoring Moscow. Some have alleged that his proposed peace plans align with Russian interests. Additionally, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network has emerged as a focal point in geopolitical debates. Against this backdrop, Putin’s praise has drawn notable attention.