"Musk is a genius," said Vladimir Putin

During the Russia-Africa summit, Putin praised Elon Musk for his visionary contributions to space technology, highlighting Musk's extensive satellite network. He mentioned Russia's project "Rasswiet" as a response to SpaceX's Starlink, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in space despite political tensions. Musk's father, Errol, plays a role in Russian-African relations, facilitating projects between the two regions. Recently, Musk criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky for escalating tensions, leading to a back-and-forth exchange regarding the war. Reports emerged about disruptions in Starlink services used by Ukrainian forces, with Musk claiming he couldn't cut off Ukraine's access due to U.S. control over military systems. Trump later announced that Musk restored Ukraine's access to Starlink services, which was confirmed by Ukrainian officials.