Elon Musk, the renowned tech entrepreneur, participated in a conversation between US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the day after the presidential election, according to a knowledgeable source.
Another insider revealed that Trump was with Musk at Mar-a-Lago when Zelensky called to congratulate him on his victory. The conversation, described as positive and cordial, was briefed by a source with details of the call.
During the call, Trump put it on speaker, allowing Zelensky to thank Musk for providing Starlink communications to Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia. The call lasted approximately seven minutes, with no policy discussions, the source mentioned.
Earlier, Zelensky announced on X that he had spoken to Trump on Wednesday, congratulating him on his “historic landslide” win. He added, “We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering US leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.”
Trump’s victory occurs at a critical juncture for Kyiv, as Russia makes advances in the eastern Donbas region, an area President Vladimir Putin aims to fully capture.
Throughout his campaign, Trump expressed doubts about the continued US support for Kyiv, suggesting that the US might push Ukraine towards an uneasy truce with Russia.
Musk, whose pro-Trump super PAC invested over $118 million in the 2024 campaign, has proposed leading a broad initiative to reduce federal spending. He has also benefited from billions of dollars in federal contracts, including those from NASA, the military, and other government agencies.
In Ukraine, Musk’s Starlink internet service has provided a crucial advantage to the Ukrainian military since the 2022 invasion, enabling real-time communication and drone feed sharing in combat-disrupted areas. Starlink’s contribution significantly bolstered Ukraine’s frontline forces, earning Musk the gratitude of Ukrainians, as SpaceX funded the service.
However, this relationship soured as Musk voiced concerns about the cost of providing the service, and reports emerged of restricted Starlink access in areas like Russian-occupied Crimea. The Pentagon later announced in June 2023 that it would finance Starlink for Ukraine.
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