Vladimir Putin characterized Elon Musk as a “real genius” on Wednesday while discussing satellite operations at the Russia-Africa Summit held in Moscow. The Russian president revealed that his government maintains close contact with Musk’s company SpaceX to coordinate activities related to satellite technology.
Putin’s remarks centered on Russia’s satellite internet initiative Rassvet, which the country has positioned as an alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink service. The Russian president emphasized the importance of communication between Russian and American partners to prevent orbital interference between the two satellite networks. He stated that coordination efforts continue despite broader political tensions between the nations.
Starlink operates approximately 13,000 satellites in orbit, according to company figures, while Rassvet currently has only roughly two dozen satellites deployed. The Russian Embassy in South Africa described Rassvet as representing the country’s initial efforts in the satellite internet sector. SpaceX declined to provide comment on Putin’s statements.
The exchange reflects broader patterns in US-Russia relations at present. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced a diesel import deal with Russia and waived certain sanctions scheduled for implementation. Additionally, a US citizen was released from Russian detention, with US envoy Steve Witkoff making statements reflecting a changed diplomatic tone. These developments come nearly five years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a conflict in which Starlink provided crucial internet connectivity to Ukrainian forces.
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